Cooling of Particulate Debris Beds: Analysis of the Initial D-Series Experiments

摘要

In an effort to provide basic data on the cooling of fast reactor debris, three in-pile experiments employing oxide fuel particulate in liquid sodium were completed in late 1977. Preliminary results from these experiments were reported shortly after their completion at the Third Post-Accident Heat Removal Information Exchange, at Argonne National Laboratory. In these experiments, a distribution of 100 mu m to 1000 mu m-sized particles of enriched UO sub 2 was fission-heated to simulate decay-heated debris. In each experiment, the UO sub 2 particles were contained in a closed, flat-bottomed vessel 012 mm in diameter which was insulated on the diameter and bottom. Sufficient sodium was included to saturate the bed of particles and to provide a volume of bulk sodium above the bed at a controlled temperature. Parameters of interest in the experiments are given. (ERA citation 04:023161)