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The current status of heat pipe R&D
Idaho National Laboratory under the Department of Energy–sponsored Microreactor Program recently conducted a comprehensive phenomena identification and ranking table (PIRT) exercise aimed at advancing heat pipe technology for microreactor applications.
Deanne Dickinson
Nuclear Technology | Volume 26 | Number 3 | July 1975 | Pages 265-277
Technical Paper | Chemical Processing | doi.org/10.13182/NT75-A24428
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Monte Carlo calculations for pipe intersections containing highly enriched, concentrated uranyl nitrate solution and reflected by a concrete room provide safe pipe diameters for a range of room sizes. The pipe-wall material (steel, aluminum, or Plexiglas) has a small effect on keff for 0.125-in.-thick pipes. Replacing the uranyl nitrate solution by uranyl fluoride results in a large increase in keff, and using plutonium nitrate (3% 240Pu) lowers keff Reflector savings curves for water and for concrete around an infinite cylinder of uranyl nitrate solution show that thick concrete is a much better reflector than an equal thickness of water. The calculational data are summarized in the form of a table and a set of rules for the use of the table in the calculation of safe dimensions for a system of intersecting pipes. This method is also applicable to plutonium systems if the plutonium contains at least 3 wt% 240Pu and no 241Pu.