Nuclear Criticality Safety Analysis of Isostatic Press.

摘要

In response to your request a nuclear criticality safety analysis was done for the isostatic press for conditions that were specified. Under normal conditions the press is subcritical by a large margin. It is considered remotely possible, however, that the polyurethane compaction bag might rupture and release its contents. To prevent criticality from occurring should the contents be dispersed in the water in the press poison plates have been provided. The design of the plates has been altered from that previously analyzed, and it is desirable to substitute some other material for the cadmium sheet originally proposed. It was calculated that with stainless steel plates containing at least 1.0% natural boron, or alternatively, coated on both sides with 0.008'' of porcelain enamel containing high concentrations of cadmium and boron, 1.8 kg of sup 235 U may be dispersed among the plates without becoming critical. A poison plate should also be provided above the bag and a poison ring below it if dispersal of U sub 3 O sub 8 in these regions around the compaction tooling is considered credible. 16 refs., 1 figs., 3 tabs. (ERA citation 13:053135)