Accession Number:

AD0645071

Title:

ANALYSIS OF DEBRIS FROM APG-3, THE SIMULATED DESTRUCT SYSTEM TEST OF A FULL-SCALE ROVER/NERVA REACTOR.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RADIOLOGICAL DEFENSE LAB SAN FRANCISCO CALIF

Personal Author(s):

• O'Connor,Joseph D.
• Scheidt,Ronald C.
• Pascual,Juan N.

Report Date:

1966-12-29

Pagination or Media Count:

44.0

Abstract:

Analysis of fragments from one of four jets of debris of a high-explosive destruct test of a nuclear reactor showed that the distribution of weight with particle size was bimodal, with a major peak near 4 mm and a minor peak near 0.2 mm. The distribution of activity also was found to be bimodal, with a pronounced peak at 0.2 mm. Specific activity calculations showed that the peak centered about the 0.2 mm size range contained the debris that was the most highly enriched in uranium. Little uranium activity was noted in particles below this size. Comparison with results of other investigations showed that a small sampling effort such as was undertaken provides adequate sampling of the debris from one jet. However, variation in particle characteristics from one jet to another would require sampling all jets in a future operation. Author

Descriptors:

• *SPACECRAFT NUCLEAR PROPULSION
• *DESTRUCTORS
• ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION
• PARTICLE SIZE
• RADIOACTIVITY
• DISTRIBUTION
• URANIUM
• JET FLOW
• SAMPLING
• GAMMA RAYS
• TEST METHODS
• COLLECTING METHODS
• ATMOSPHERE ENTRY
• LAUNCHING
• ACCIDENTS
• RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION
• RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION

Subject Categories:

• Nuclear Fission Reactors (Power)
• Nuclear Propulsion

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE