Core-to-specimen energy coupling results of the first modern fueled experiments in TREAT

Woolstenhulme, Nicolas E.; Fleming, Austin; Jensen, Colby; Kamerman, David; Wachs, D. M.

doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2019.107117

Cited by 19 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…These tests used a helium environment capsule design known as the Separate Effects Test Holder (SETH). These tests focused on quantifying core-to-specimen energy coupling factors, commissioning new experiment support systems such as EDACS, demonstrating use of the FMMS, and assessing the performance of instrumentation in concurrent tests placed in TREAT coolant channel positions [22]. The SETH tests hosted new technologies for world first applications in transient testing, including additively manufactured capsules and multispectral pyrometry.…”

Section: Current Efforts and Future Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT)

Woolstenhulme¹

2022

Nuclear Reactors - Spacecraft Propulsion, Research Reactors, and Reactor Analysis Topics

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Constructed in the late 1950s, the Transient Reactor Test facility (TREAT) provided numerous transient irradiations until operation was suspended in 1994. It was later refurbished, and resumed operations in 2017 to meet the data needs of a new era of nuclear fuel safety research. TREAT uses uranium oxide dispersed in graphite blocks to yield a core that affords strong negative temperature feedback. Automatically controlled, fast-acting transient control rods enable TREAT to safely perform extreme power maneuvers—ranging from prompt bursts to longer power ramps—to broadly support research on postulated accidents for many reactor types. TREAT’s experiment devices work in concert with the reactor to contain specimens, support in situ diagnostics, and provide desired test environments, thus yielding a uniquely versatile facility. This chapter summarizes TREAT’s design, history, current efforts, and future endeavors in the field of nuclear-heated fuel safety research.

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Section: Current Efforts and Future Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT)

Woolstenhulme¹

2022

Nuclear Reactors - Spacecraft Propulsion, Research Reactors, and Reactor Analysis Topics

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“…Five of these capsules were constructed and identified as SETH-A through -E, each containing 1-atmosphere helium. SETH-B through -E also held four 1-mm diameter titanium-sheath type K thermocouples (TC) welded to the specimen cladding surface and a fiber-optic pyrometer [3].…”

Section: List Of Figuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Schedule implications of dosimeter evaluation logistics and the scarcity of historic fission wire materials, which were typically uncommon alloys having very dilute uranium concentration to prevent their melting during transients, required an alternate approach for this test series using in-situ calorimetric methods. In the SETH calorimetry approach, temperature measurements of the rodlet's cladding surfaces were correlated with thermal models of the experiment [3].…”

Section: Experiments Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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TREAT Fuel Motion Summary Report. SETH A-E Experiments

Giraldo

Johnson

Thompson

et al. 2019

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In support of the Accident Tolerant Fuels program, experiment devices are being developed to enable transient testing of pressurized water reactor (PWR) type fuel specimens. In fiscal year 2019 several fueled tests were conducted in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) using the Separate Effects Test Holder (SETH). Five different SETH capsules (SETH A-E) were assembled, each holding a 10-pellet rodlet with 4.9% enriched, commercially-produced fresh UO2 pellets in zirconium alloy cladding with pellet dimensions having typical PWR radial dimensions and a total pellet stack length measuring 10.16 cm. The rodlet's length allows the specimen to be axially positioned in the center of the core with minimal flux variation over the height of the rodlet. The fuel motion monitoring system (FMMS) is located on the north side of the TREAT reactor. Having direct line-of-sight of the core enables the FMMS to collect spatially-resolved data for fast neutrons generated due to fission occurring in experiment specimens. The FMMS contains 360 channels that make up a 10 (horizontal) by 36 (vertical) array of viewing slots; for the SETH A-E test series 96 proton-recoil scintillator (PRS) detectors were installed in the system. The fast neutrons are detected in the PRS detectors from light produced by the recoil of protons interacting with ZnS(Ag) grains in each detector's scintillator button. This report focuses on the FMMS data captured in the SETH A-E experiments, with multiple transients varying in reactivity addition and length. The first three experiments had a total reactor energy of 101 MJ each and were critical in understanding the FMMS field of view, lead shielding, and other TREAT data acquisition systems. SETH-B2 and C had a reactivity addition of almost double the previous transients and served as a demonstration of the detector array behavior under increased reactor energy. The final two SETH experiments (D and E) were aimed at reaching cladding melting temperatures with a reactor energy over 500 MJ for each test. In preparation for the higher energy transients, the FMMS lead shielding was reduced to 0.5 inches from the 6 inches used in SETH A-C. This was expected to saturate the detectors at the peak of the transient in exchange for higher sensitivity at lower energies after the peak, when the motion was expected. SETH-D was clipped at approximately 3 seconds, which was too early for the FMMS to capture any rodlet motion. SETH-E had the same reactivity addition as SETH-D but the transient time was extended to 18 seconds. The FMMS captured the downward motion of the rodlet in SETH-E as the count rate significantly changed for the detectors viewing the specimen. Snapshots taken throughout the transient helped identify the approximate time at which the motion initiated. Further analysis of the individual detector data captured on a per-millisecond time basis resulted in a determination that the approximate time for the onset of the downward motion was 2.84 ± 0.02 seconds. Neutron radiographs confirmed that downward m...

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Image fusion for neutron tomography of nuclear fuel

Chuirazzi

Kane²,

Craft³

et al. 2022

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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Image fusion, the process of combining different images together, can be useful to create a more complete picture. In this work, image fusion is applied to neutron tomography of nuclear fuel with the goal of enhancing the information obtained about the fuel. Different reconstruction methods, such as Feldkamp, Davis and Kress filtered back projection and Simultaneous Reconstruction Technique, were combined to enhance image quality. This methodology was shown to reduce noise and ring artifacts without sacrificing sharp edges, allowing for a more accurate representation of sample geometry. Technique enhancements and future applications for the neutron imaging community are also discussed.

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Core-to-specimen energy coupling results of the first modern fueled experiments in TREAT

Cited by 19 publications

References 20 publications

The Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT)

The Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT)

TREAT Fuel Motion Summary Report. SETH A-E Experiments

Image fusion for neutron tomography of nuclear fuel

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