Irradiation Technology

The International Topical Meeting on Irradiation Technology took place two the Neutron and its Applications (Cambridge, weeks after the Conference on th U. K.) marking the 50 anniversary of the discovery of the neutron. The application of neutrons from research reactors for materials testing requires a large variety of irradiation devices (vehicles) and their out-of-pile control and recording equipment. The in-pile sections are sophisticated in design and assem­ bly, expensive, and consumable. There have been only a few international con­ ferences on irradiation testing, the last one being limited to fast breeder reactor work (Jackson, Wyoming, September 1973). In 1982, however, two conferences picked up similar topics -the ANS Conference on Fast, Thermal, and Fusion Reactor Experiments (Salt Lake City, Utah, April 1982), -the Grenoble meeting (these proceedings). Overlapping has been avoided by putting the accent of the U.S. conference on fast reactor work, and on thermal reactor experiments at Grenoble. Put to­ gether, both conferences ligned up more than 130 papers in this very specialised field, demonstrating a high level of technological development as opposed to a decreasing number of large materials testing reactors available. The editors wish to acknowledge the flawless organisation of the meeting by CEN de Grenoble and the personal commitment of CEN staff to its success. Special thanks go to F. Merchie andJ.F. Veyrat of the Service des Piles. P. von der Hardt H. R6ttger XIII P. von der Hardt and H. Rottger (eds.), Irradiation Technology, xiii.

List of Contents.- Session I–IV: Light Water Reactors.- Facilities and Techniques for Instrumented Fuel Irradiations in the NRX Reactor at Chalk River.- Etude Experimentale Et Theorique du Comportement de la Gaine de L’element Combustible.- Operational Transients on LWR Fuel in BR2 Reactor.- La Boucle “Isabelle 4”: Boucle D’essai PWR De- Chargeable et Rechargeable Dans la Piscine du Reacteur Osiris.- The Dido Water Loop at Harwell and its use in Particular for PWR Crud-Deposition Experiments.- Techniques for Irradiation Testing of Non-Fuel Materials in Light Water Power Reactors.- L’instrumentation des Experiences de Rampes Pour la Filiere A Eau Pressurisee.- Erste Betriebserfahrungen Mit Einer BestrahLungseinrichtung zum Testen Von Brennstäben Unter Druckwasserreaktorbedingungen.- Bati Multiple Immerge Pour le Controle de Crayons PWR Irradies Dans Une Boucle Rechargeable en Piscine OSIRIS.- Anlage Zur Untersuchung des Risswachstumsverhaltens Von Druckbehälterstahl Unter Siedewasserreaktor-Bedingungen.- Prediction of Power and Analysis of Results from Thermohydraulic and Neutronic Measurements in a Pressurised-Water-Loop Experiment in the Dido Reactor at Harwell.- Irradiation Experiments at the Nuclear Research Institute, ?ež.- Capabilities of the Power Burst Facility.- Inpile Test Rigs for Ria Experiments in the NSRR.- Design synopsis for the New Accident Related Studies Loop at CRNL.- Power Burst Facility Severe Fuel Damage Test Program.- Ria Fuel Behavior Research in the NSRR.- Fuel ROD Testing Facilities in HFR Petten.- Session V: Light Water Reactors Instrumentation.- Instrumentation for Automatic Diameter and Eddy-Current Measurement of Irradiated LWR Fuel Rods in the HFR Pool.- Etude Des Deformations Imposees PAR L’UO2 A La Gaine D’un Element Combustible PWR AU Cours D’un Saut de Puissance.- The In-Pile Measurement of Thermal Conductivity of UO2 Vibratory Compact.- Session VI: Fast Breeder Reactors.- Experiments in Rapsodie with Thermocouples Instrumented Pins for Measurements of the internal Fuel Pellet Temperature.- Reacteur Rapide Experimental Rapsodie Moyens De detection ET Localisation Des Ruptures De Gaine.- Development of the Un-Instrumented Irradiation Subassembly UNIS-B for the Experimental Fast Reactor Joyo.- Transient Overpower Experiment on LMFBR Fuel Pins in the Petten High Flux Reactor (HFR-TOP).- Paprica - Code De Gestion Et De Calcul Du Coeur Du Réacteur Rapsodie.- Die KNK II Als Bestrahlungsreaktor.- Transient Experiments on LMFBR Fuel Pins in the Reactor BR2 with the Versatile Sodium Loop “VIC”.- Programme De Prequalification En Pile D’UN Combustible a Oxyde Mixte Fabrique Par Un Nouveau Procede (GSP).- Le Programme D’irradiation Gocar.- EBR-II Transient Operation and Test Capabilities.- Experiences Pahr a Melusine.- Session VII: Instrumentation.- Les Mesures DND Faites Dans le Cadre des Irradiations de la Filiere a Neutrons Rapides.- The Delayed Neutron Detection Method for Cladding Tube Monitoring and Experimental Results.- Experience Acquise dans L’utilisation de L’absorbant Neutronique 3he Pour L’execution de Transitoires de Puissance de Fission.- Mesures Des Temperatures D’Irradiation et Etude Des Surchauffes Locales de Gaine en Acier Austenitique, Par Diffraction X.- Developpement D’equipements Et D’experiences Hors Pile Comme Support D’irradiations en Regime Transitoire.- Measurement and Calculation Techniques Utilized for the Neutronic Characterization of BR2 Irradiation Devices of the Variable Neutron Screen Type. Application to the “VIC” Sodium Loop.- Session VIII: Gas Cooled Reactors and Fast Breeder Reactors.- A Calorimetric Device for Irradiation of FBR Fuel Pins.- Irradiation Facility for Temperature Transient and Cycling Experiments of HTR Fuel Elements.- Equipment for Irradiation Experiments in the Coolant Chemistry of the AGR.- Characterization of HTR Fuel Element Samples by Activation Testing.- In-Pile High Temperature Irradiation Testing Techniques for the Materials and Fuels of HTGR in JMTR.- Session IX: Miscellaneous.- Die Experimentelle Nutzung des Deutschen Forschungsreaktors FR2 — Ein Rückblick.- Bestrahlungstests mit Niedrigangereicherten Brennstoffen und Brennelementen für Forschungsreaktoren.- An Automatic Controlled, Heavy Water Cooled Facility for Irradiation of Silicon Crystals in the DR 3 Reactor at Risø National Laboratory, Denmark.- Quality Assurance and Reliability Analysis in the Realisation of Irradiation Testing Devices.- Poster Session.- Operating Experience with Capsules for RPV Steel Irradiations with Large Specimen Volume.- Determination Tomographique de la Distribution des Emetteurs Gamma Dans un Crayon Combustible en Irradiation (Programme ISARD).- Nicrosil-Nisil Thermocouples in Fuel Element Irradiation Experiments.- Diane. A Spallation Neutron Source of Fundamental Research in west Germany.- A Small, Multipurpose, Low Pressure Water Loop at BR2 Reactor.- An Ultrasonic Gauge for Measuring of M.T.R. Fuel Element Cooling Gap Dimensions.- Measurements of Nuclear Heating in the Petten High Flux Reactor.- Facilities for the Irradiation of 235-U for the Production of 99 Mo at the HFR Petten.- Evaluation of the Produced Radioactivity from Rapid Irradiation in a Neutron Flux Density Profile.- Capsule Transport Evaluation of a Rapid He-Transfer System with a 6LiD-Converter.- Experimental Facilities for Pec Reactor Design Central Channel Test Loop: Cpc-1 - Thermal Shocks Loop: Cedi.- Puissance Deposee Dans un Dispositif Complexe par les Gammas de Reacteur D’Essais. Experiences et Calculs Relalises A Siloe.- Out-of-Pile Experiments In Support of the HFR-Top Irradiation.- Piramid, a Loop for European PAHR Irradiations According to A MOL Integrated Device.- Closure of the Meeting.- Programme Summary.- List of Chairman.- List of Participants.- Author Index.