FEASIBILITY STUDY OF METHODS FOR DETERMINATION OF KINETIC STABILITY IN THE NMSR

Presented is a review of the theoretical studies and analogue simulation studies of the NS Savannah power system which predict that the NMSR will be a stable reactor under normal and some accidental operating conditions. Investigation indicates that of possible measurements which may be performed on shipboard to determine the NMSR stability experimentally, a pile noise analysis is the most desirable. This would give a semi-quantitative evaluation of the power coefficients, and would involve a minimum of reactor time. Two approaches are discussed: the direct measurement of pile noise performed for frequencies above about 1 cps; and autocorrelation techniques which could be supplemental for lower frequencies and which would conserve reactor time at the expense of calculation time. If the noise analysis exhibited any tendency toward instability, then a pile oscillator analysis could be used to obtain a precise measurement of the total transfer function. The NS Savannah rods can be oscillated suitably for frequencies below 1 cps. Final analysis of the detailed transfer function would aid in discovering the cause of any such instability.

• Corporate Authors:

  Babcock and Wilcox Company

  New York, NY  United States 
• Authors:
  • Funderburg, J M
  • Barrett, L G
• Publication Date: 1960-8

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 36 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Equipment tests; Instrumentation; Nuclear fuels; Nuclear power; Nuclear reactors
• Old TRIS Terms: Nuclear reactor instrumentation; Nuclear reactor testing
• Subject Areas: Energy; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00026329
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: BAW-1206
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 1 1973 12:00AM