ORNL-2106 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

ORNL-2106 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site ORNL-2106 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

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ANP PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 5 5 2 4ezmw ORNL-LR-DW I4917 1 0 0.04 0.08 a12 0.16 0.20 0.24 THICKNESS OF LAYER (em) Fig. 1.2.2. Heating in Copper-Boron Layer By Alpha Particles from the B"(n,a)Li' Reaction. The heating from sources 10 to 14 was neg- lected. Their combined contributions to the heating in the region being considered was estimated to be about 5% of the total heating. The fuel region of the core of the reactor was assumed to be a spherical shell 5.125 in. thick with an outside radius of 10.5 in.' This region was divided into13 spherical shells of thicknesses varying from 0.27 cm to 2 cm. The source strength (in watts/cm3) of the prompt gamma rays in each shell was assumed to be proportional to the average fission power in each shell, which was calculated (from ref. 2) at the equatorial plane of 'w. L. Scott, Jr., Dimensional Data for ART, ORNL CF-56-1-186 (March 13, 1956). 2A. M. Perry, Fission Power Distribution in the ART, ORNL CF-561-172 (Jan. 25, 1956). 30 the reactor. The source strength of the decay LJ gamma rays was assumed to be the same for each fuel shell.3 The average source strength of gamma rays resulting from inelastic neutron scattering in the fuel was calculated4 by using the output of multigroup calculations5 performed by the Curtiss- Wright Corp. on ART-type reactors with spherical t symmetry.6 The inelastic cross sections used for the fuel were those reported in ref. 3. This calculation had been performed before all the data in the latter reference had been accumulated, so it was assumed that, for each inelastic collision, one-half the average neutron energy in each energy group was given off as I-MeV gamma radiation. Calculations made by using the more recent data indicate that the source strength used was too high by about 50%. The total heating values given in Fig. 1.2.1 may therefore be about 5% too high. This error is partially compensated for, however, by the neglect of sources 10 through 14. The prompt and decay gamma-ray spectra7 were divided into four energy groups with average energies for each group of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 Mev. The last four groups listed in ref. 3 were combined into one group with an average energy of 4 Mev. The heating at the various places described in Fig. 1.2.1 was calculated by summing the contributions from each energy group from every fuel shell. It was assumed for the calculations that each fuel shell was replaced by an infinitely thin spherical-she1 I source embedded in an infinite homogeneous medium so that the standard transformation from a spherical-shell source to two L infinite-plane sources would apply, that is, so that the heating at R, h(R), would be given by (1) h(R) = _L. [ H(R - Y) - H(R + Y) , R 1 3H. W. Bertini et al., Basic Gamma-Ray Data for ART Heat Deposition Calculations, ORNL-2113 (in press). 4Calculatio~ir performed by R. B. Stevenson, Pratt 8, Whitney Aircraft, private communication to H. W. Bertini. 'S. Strauch, Curtirs-Wright Corp., private communi- cation to H. W. Bertini. 6H. Reere, Jr., S. Strauch, and J. Michalcozo, Geometry Study far an ANP Circulating Fuel Reactor, WAD1901 (Sept. 1, 1954). 7H. W. Bertini, C. M. Copenhaver, and R. B. 2 Stevenson, ANP Quar. Prog. Rep. March 10. 1956. ORNL-2061, P 35. c *

where I = radius of source (taken as the average radius of each fuel shell), R = distance from center of fuel shell to field point, H(x) 3 heating at a field point due to an infinite plane source of monoenergetic gamma rays a distance x away from the field point. The second term of Eq. 1 was dropped for these calculations because of the large radii involved. The assumptions made were certainly not consistent with the geometry, inasmuch as the region between the source shells and the field point is not everywhere homogeneous. The justification for this approach was that it appeared to be as good as could be done without going to a much more detailed numerical integration over all source points for each energy group to calculate the heating at one field point. In deriving H, it was assumed that the attenuating medium between the plane source and field point consisted of infinite slabs of materials whose thicknesses were determined by their thicknesses at the equatorial plane of the ART.' The buildup factor used was of the form us /.Liti (2) where A(e -1) + 1 , A,a parameters of the equation, pi 3 linear total gamma-ray absorption cross section (cm-1) for material i, ti = thickness of material i (cm). Under these conditions, r 1 ing (w/cm3) at the fi S = source strength (w/cm2), pe E linear gamma-ray energy section (cm-') for the fi ti e thickness of the ith slab (c The S term was determined f and each energy group by multiplying the source strength for each group (in w/cm3) by the thickness PERIOD ENDING JUNE 70, 7956 of the shell. The buildup factor parameters, A and a, were taken to be those for beryllium. The p"s, A's, and a's were evaluated at each energy group.3 The spectrum of prompt gamma rays reported in ref. 7, 8.8 e-l*OIE photons/Mev*fission, is different from that reported in ref. 3, 9.61 e-l*OIE photons/Mev*fission. The former value, which neglects the variation of (~=/u,)"~~ with energy, was used in these calculations befiore the correction was pointed out, Use of the latter spectrum would change the results reported here by less than 2%. The heating by the capture gamma rays in the outer core shell was calculated with the use of the same assumptions as those used for the calculations of the heating by the fuel-region sources, thqt is, a sphere-to-plane transformation was made and slab geometry was used for the intervening mediums betweeh the plane source and field point. The absorption rate in the outer core shell was calculated from the output date of multigroup calculations.5 The spectrum of capture gamma rays in lnconel was divided into seven energy groups in ref. 3, but, for this calculation, the first three groups were combined into one group, and the average energy of this combined group was taken to be 2 Mev. The fourth and fifth groups in ref. 3 were taken as the second and third energy groups for this calculation, and the average energies were taken to be 4 and 6 Mev, respectively. The sixth and seventh energy groups in ref. 3 were combined into one group with an average energy of 8 MeV. Thus a total of fow energy groups was used in this calculation. The buildup factor used was that for beryllium at each energy group. The outer core shell has an inside radius of 26 cm and a thickness of 0.381 cm.8 he capture gamma rays in the island core shell e neglected because of the shielding properties of the fuel. The heating by the capture gamma rays in the beryllium reflector was calculated by using the sphere-to-plane transformation and the bove, The reflector spherical shells, that is, the same shells as those used by the Curtiss- Wright Corp. in their multigroup calculations of reactor No. 675.6 The capture gamma-ray source *Calculations performed by C. M. Copenhaver, QRNL, private communication to H. Bertini. 31

where<br />

I = radius of source (taken as <strong>the</strong> average<br />

radius of each fuel shell),<br />

R = distance from center of fuel shell to<br />

field point,<br />

H(x) 3 heating at a field point due to an infinite<br />

plane source of monoenergetic gamma<br />

rays a distance x away from <strong>the</strong> field<br />

point.<br />

The second term of Eq. 1 was dropped for <strong>the</strong>se<br />

calculations because of <strong>the</strong> large radii involved.<br />

The assumptions made were certainly not<br />

consistent with <strong>the</strong> geometry, inasmuch as <strong>the</strong><br />

region between <strong>the</strong> source shells and <strong>the</strong> field<br />

point is not everywhere homogeneous. The justification<br />

for this approach was that it appeared to<br />

be as good as could be done without going to a<br />

much more detailed numerical integration over all<br />

source points for each energy group to calculate<br />

<strong>the</strong> heating at one field point.<br />

In deriving H, it was assumed that <strong>the</strong> attenuating<br />

medium between <strong>the</strong> plane source and field<br />

point consisted of infinite slabs of materials<br />

whose thicknesses were determined by <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

thicknesses at <strong>the</strong> equatorial plane of <strong>the</strong> ART.'<br />

The buildup factor used was of <strong>the</strong> form<br />

us /.Liti<br />

(2)<br />

where<br />

A(e -1) + 1 ,<br />

A,a parameters of <strong>the</strong> equation,<br />

pi 3 linear total gamma-ray absorption cross<br />

section (cm-1) for material i,<br />

ti = thickness of material i (cm).<br />

Under <strong>the</strong>se conditions,<br />

r 1<br />

ing (w/cm3) at <strong>the</strong> fi<br />

S = source strength (w/cm2),<br />

pe E linear gamma-ray energy<br />

section (cm-') for <strong>the</strong> fi<br />

ti e thickness of <strong>the</strong> ith slab (c<br />

The S term was determined f<br />

and each energy group by multiplying <strong>the</strong> source<br />

strength for each group (in w/cm3) by <strong>the</strong> thickness<br />

PERIOD ENDING JUNE 70, 7956<br />

of <strong>the</strong> shell. The buildup factor parameters, A and<br />

a, were taken to be those for beryllium. The<br />

p"s, A's, and a's were evaluated at each energy<br />

group.3<br />

The spectrum of prompt gamma rays reported<br />

in ref. 7, 8.8 e-l*OIE photons/Mev*fission, is<br />

different from that reported in ref. 3, 9.61 e-l*OIE<br />

photons/Mev*fission. The former value, which<br />

neglects <strong>the</strong> variation of (~=/u,)"~~ with energy,<br />

was used in <strong>the</strong>se calculations befiore <strong>the</strong> correction<br />

was pointed out, Use of <strong>the</strong> latter spectrum<br />

would change <strong>the</strong> results reported here by less<br />

than 2%.<br />

The heating by <strong>the</strong> capture gamma rays in <strong>the</strong><br />

outer core shell was calculated with <strong>the</strong> use of<br />

<strong>the</strong> same assumptions as those used for <strong>the</strong> calculations<br />

of <strong>the</strong> heating by <strong>the</strong> fuel-region sources,<br />

thqt is, a sphere-to-plane transformation was<br />

made and slab geometry was used for <strong>the</strong> intervening<br />

mediums betweeh <strong>the</strong> plane source and<br />

field point. The absorption rate in <strong>the</strong> outer core<br />

shell was calculated from <strong>the</strong> output date of<br />

multigroup calculations.5<br />

The spectrum of capture gamma rays in lnconel<br />

was divided into seven energy groups in ref. 3,<br />

but, for this calculation, <strong>the</strong> first three groups<br />

were combined into one group, and <strong>the</strong> average<br />

energy of this combined group was taken to be<br />

2 Mev. The fourth and fifth groups in ref. 3 were<br />

taken as <strong>the</strong> second and third energy groups for<br />

this calculation, and <strong>the</strong> average energies were<br />

taken to be 4 and 6 Mev, respectively. The sixth<br />

and seventh energy groups in ref. 3 were combined<br />

into one group with an average energy of 8 MeV.<br />

Thus a total of fow energy groups was used in<br />

this calculation. The buildup factor used was that<br />

for beryllium at each energy group. The outer<br />

core shell has an inside radius of 26 cm and a<br />

thickness of 0.381 cm.8<br />

he capture gamma rays in <strong>the</strong> island core shell<br />

e neglected because of <strong>the</strong> shielding properties<br />

of <strong>the</strong> fuel. The heating by <strong>the</strong> capture gamma<br />

rays in <strong>the</strong> beryllium reflector was calculated by<br />

using <strong>the</strong> sphere-to-plane transformation and <strong>the</strong><br />

bove, The reflector<br />

spherical shells, that<br />

is, <strong>the</strong> same shells as those used by <strong>the</strong> Curtiss-<br />

Wright Corp. in <strong>the</strong>ir multigroup calculations of<br />

reactor No. 675.6 The capture gamma-ray source<br />

*Calculations performed by C. M. Copenhaver,<br />

QRNL, private communication to H. Bertini.<br />

31

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