Nuclear Engineering Commons^™

An Examination Of Thermal Stress As A Mechanism For Cladding Failure In A Hypothetical Lmrbr Transiet, Douglas Wakerfield Croucher

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Stainless steel clad uranium dioxide fuel pellets were pulse irradiated in the Annular Core Pulse Reactor to evaluate thermal stress as a contributing mechanism for cladding failure in hypothetical LMFBR transients. The 6.2 mm diameter UO2 fuel pellets, with enrichments up to 25 w/o 235UO2, were helium bonded to 0.381 mm thick Type-316 stainless steel cladding and were irradiated in a helium environment with reactor pulses having initial periods as short as 1.5 milliseconds. In experiments conducted elsewhere with longer initial periods, the primary fuel failure mechanisms observed were differential fuel-cladding thermal expansion, intragranular fission-gas-induced fuel swelling, transient fission gas …

Safeguards Considerations For A Htgr Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Philip G. Johnson

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Given that the prime objective of safeguards for special nuclear materials (SNM) is nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, it is logical that safeguards priorities should be commensurate with the relative suitabilities of the various SNM forms in existence for application in nuclear explosives. The SNM forms in each reactor fuel cycle, for example, should be screened and ordered according to their relative suitabilities for such misapplication. Significant considerations in assigning protection priorities include the relative suitabilities based on materials characteristics, inherent protection features of the mateerials or the processing of the SNM forms, the quantities of these materials in existence, and …

A Prompt D-D Neutron Calibration Of A Plastic Scintillator Detector, Dal H. Jensen

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

ABSTRACT

A new approach to the measurement of the neutron yield of low intensity (~ 2 x 10 neutrons/pulse) 0-0 neutron generators in a single pulse is described. A cylindrical (20.32 cm radius by 20.32 cm height) scin­tillator of Pilot-Bis optically coupled to a Phillips 57AVP photomulti­plier with a 20 cm diameter photocathode. The light pulse resulting from the neutron burst is fed into a voltage integrator calibrated in neutrons/ count.

The initial calibration of the stable neutron generator used in the scintillator calibration was performed using a silver activation detector (PT-502) designed by LASL. The data obtained for the …

Methods For Calculating Energy Deposition Using Coupled Neutron-Gamma Ray Transport, Lewis Douglas Rigdon

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

In radiation damage problems, it is desirable to know not only the neutron and gamma ray fluxes but also the energy deposition due to those fluxes. Following the recent availability of coupled neutron-gamma ray, multigroup-multitable cross sections and associated fluence-to-KERMA factors, an automated method has been developed for obtaining the energy deposition in a material region due to local neutron and gamma ray fluxes. Cross section sets which combine neutron and photon transport as well as a production matrix for neutron-induced gamma rays are used in the transport calculation. Thus in one discrete ordinates transport calculation, the energy deposition from …

Creating The Electric Energy Economy, L. G. Hauser

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

My remarks will be directed to four points:

First, that energy is the life blood of our economy, and that its use or conservation is far from a simple matter of personal habits of waste or frugality. In other words, the vital role energy plays in the production of goods and services should be distinguished from its use in their consumption.

Second, that our excessive dependence on our two scarcest energy resources -- oil and natural gas -- is the core of the energy problem, both U.S. and worldwide.

Third, that limiting our time horizon to this winter, next summer, …

Centralized Solar Wind Home Heating, Russell Peterson, Duane Cromack

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In the immediacy of national goals for energy independence, the need emerges to use dialectic methods to diminish the energy consumptive characteristics of the typical home.

At the cutting edge of resourceful progress are the residential developments which embrace alternative and conservative energy techniques. In conjunction with such a planned, low impact community, this paper proposes a cluster-centralized system which utilizes wind energy in combination with solar thermal energy for space and domestic water heating.

A description of the random solar-wind resource embodies a matching problem that in turn reveals the benefits of the combined mode of energy collection. Though …

Energy And Transportation Policy, James S. Sagner

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Energy shortages of recent years suggest a re-examination of national transportation policy. The lack of a coordinated approach to the solution of urban cogestion inhibits potential short-run responses to gasoline shortfalls. Longer-range policy, particularly in the context of severe financial constraints, must be carefully integrated with demonstrated patterns of urban travel and population and employment densities. Given these considerations, metropolitan areas now planning or constructing rapid rail facilities may be selecting inappropriate responses to the problem of urban access.

The Design And Performance Of A Distributed Flow Water-Cooled Solar Collector, Donald L. Spencer, Theodore F. Smith, Herbert R. Flindt

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Design of a flat plate collector which reduces the temperature differential between the absorber plate and the fluid is described. The reduced temperature differences are shown to yield increase collector performance. Flow characteristics of the collector are examined. Collector thermal performance is illustrated for typical operating and environmental conditions. A cost analysis is presented to demonstrate that material and assembly costs are substantially lower than for any collector presently on the market.

Status Report On The Callaway Nuclear Power Plant, A. E. Bolan, D. F. Schnell

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The progress to date of the first nuclear-powered, electric generating plant proposed to be constructed in the state of Missouri is described.

Direct Ac Generation From Solar Cell Arrays, Fernando L. Alvarado, Adel H. Eltimsahy

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Results of the investigation of the performance of solar cells when directly coupled to a conventional three-phase power network are presented. This approach dissociates the electricity production problem from the electric energy storage problem. Extensive studies of the required power inverter are performed. Preliminary simulation results indicate that ac power outputs of better than 90% of the optimum cell power output can be easily achieved by means of a suitably controlled inverter, thereby justifying the elimination of dc loads or local dc electric energy storage devices. It is also shown that the controlling policy for the inverter must depend on …

Dynamic Simulation For Regional Energy Studies, B. W. Jones, P. M. Moretti, J. H. Mize

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

A series of models has been developed for regional studies of energy supply- demand systems. The models are based on dynamic simulation of components of the system using equations derived from the technical details of the system. The models contain sufficient detail to make in-depth studies and specific recommendations. The final goal is to include all aspects of regional energy systems from native supplies of energy resources to the economic activities of the region.

To develop a comprehensive model, the system has been partitioned into subsystems, so that a detailed model can be made for each subsystem. The detailed model …

How Might Synthetic Fuels From Coal Affect Natural Resources And Environment?, H. J. Plass Jr.

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Energy self-sufficiency for the U. S. requires substantially increased use of coal. Direct combustion of coal without adequate environmental controls, as would occur if coal were used as a fuel for homes and offices throughout the country, would result in severe air pollution problems„ Synthetic fuels from coal such as methane, low BTU gas, or hydrogen, when utilized by the homes and businesses as gas or as electricity from gas, will contribute a much smaller amount of air pollution. However, to make these synthetic fuels available, it is necessary to mine more coal than would have to be mined for …

Alcohol Assisted Hydrocarbon Fuels: A Comparison Of Exhaust Emissions And Fuel Consumption Using Steady-State And Dynamic Engine Test Facilities, D. J. Bushnell, J. M. Simonsen

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This paper presents experimental data which exemplifies the differences in emission level testing on internal combustion engines when dynamic engine tests are used instead of steady-state engine tests. A comparison of the two test methods is made using hydrocarbon fuels with varying amounts of methanol. Emissions measured include the nitric oxides, unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Emission levels and fuel consumption are reported for the various volumetric percentages of methanol in the fuel.

Of special significance are the different trends the emission levels establish when subjected to a dynamic engine test as compared to the results for the steady-state tests. …

Computer Simulation Of Radiation Effects In Fe₃Al By Using Alternating Direction Implicit Numerical Techniques., Dean Lewis Tibbitts

Masters Theses

"An analysis was conducted to see if the alternating direction implicit (a.d.i.) numerical technique could be applied to a many-body dynamical radiation damage model.

The computer program which resulted was named ADI. It was numerically stable for small time steps used in conjunction with low ev knock-ens. It was also able to relax the a toms in the system simultaneously in the implicit direction. However, an existing explicit computer code, which was to be replaced by ADI, proved to be more numerically stable and about 40% faster"-- Abstract, p. ii

A Computer Technique For Calculating The Radiological Consequences Of Pressurized Water Reactor Power Plant Hypothetical Accidents, Charles Francis Gill

Doctoral Dissertations

"A closed form analytical method of calculating the radiological consequences of ten pressurized water reactor (PWR) hypothetical accidents was developed. This methodology was used to develop a computer code, DOSES, to compute the gamma-whole body, beta-skin and iodine inhalation thyroid doses at the site boundary, at the low population zone outer boundary and for control room occupancy for the ten PWR hypothetical accidents. The computer code, DOSES, was developed to operate in the conversational remote terminal mode and to provide a mechanism for producing required information for chapter 15 of PWR nuclear power plant safety analysis reports.

The identification of …

Effect Of Photoneutrons On Transients Of Beryllium Reflected Reactors, Safdar Ahmad Ali

Doctoral Dissertations

"An analytical model is developed to account for the photoneutron sources present in a beryllium reflector. The time-dependent, two- dimensional and three energy-group diffusion equations are written with an additional photoneutron source term. Then an approximate flux composed of two spatial shapes chosen beforehand, each having an unknown time coefficient, is inserted into time-dependent multigroup equations and the weighted residual criterion is applied. This yielded multimode kinetics equations with generalized definitions for conventional matrix parameters: generation time, reactivity, delayed neutron and delayed photoneutron fraction matrices.

Two transients are analyzed for the University of Missouri Research Reactor: simulation of rod drop …

Experimental Study Of Electron Density And Confinement Time In An Electrostatically-Plugged Cusp Device Using A Microwave Interferometer, Robert Louis Hayward

Masters Theses

"The average electron density and electron confinement time in an electrostatically plugged magnetic spindle cusp device are studied using a 20 GHz microwave interferometer. The results are compared with the predictions from approximate theoretical equations. With a magnetic induction in the point cusp of 5000 Gauss, a plasma is produced by injecting a 5 mA, 500 eV electron beam into hydrogen gas at 10^-5 Torr. The measured electron density is 2 x 10^-10 cm^-3 and the measured confinement time is 80 ysec, which agree to within a factor of two with values predicted by theory"--Abstract, page ii.

Energy, Environment And Incremental Decision Making, Jeff V. Conopask, Robert R. Reynolds Jr.

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

During the late 1960's and early 70's a variety of environmental/energy oriented legislation was enacted by the Congress. The most important of these acts, the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), required that environmental impact statements be filed when various private and public activities have a potential for impacting man and his environment. (17) Impact statement requirements go beyond the currently practiced cost/benefit analysis, which is often just a production (direct) impact assessment. Heretofore, indirect or second round economic and social effects of consequence affecting other national goals were seldom counted.