Nuclear Reactor Simulator,

Abstract

The simulator is an electrical analogue computer. The idea of solving differential equations by the use of electrical models has become a widely accepted technique. If due consideration has been given to keeping the model similar to the physical phenomena described by the differential equations, the practical engineer has at his disposal a means of studying the physical phenomena without continual reference to the differential equations involved. The simulator developed at QRNL, through the combined efforts of E. I. Wade and J. W. Simpson of the Power Pile Division, meets this requirement. It consists of a network of electrical conducting elements and suitable sources of current and current sinks. The design of this network is such that when the proper electrical resistance values are assembled and the current sources and sinks are properly adjusted, the steady state voltage distribution on the network is the same as the steady state flux distribution in the reactor and the current sources are a measure of the critical mass of the reactor.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1949
Accession Number
ADA321537

Entities

People

  • J. M. Harrer

Organizations

  • Argonne National Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cathode Followers
  • Circuit Analysis
  • Circuits
  • Control Rods
  • Differential Equations
  • Diffusion Theory
  • Electrical Circuits
  • Electrical Resistance
  • Electron Tubes
  • Electronic Amplifier
  • Measurement
  • Neutron Flux
  • Nuclear Reactors
  • Reactor Materials
  • Simulators
  • Sliding Contacts
  • Variable Resistors

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Systems Analysis and Design