Design Features of Capsules for High-Temperature Irradiations

Symposium on Problems in Irradiation Capsule Experiments, Held at Germantown, Maryland , October 8, 9, and 10, 1963

“…These t e s t s have included i n v e s t i g a t i o n s on a v a r i e t y of materials and t e s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s (e.g., r e f . [1][2][3][4][5]. Differences i n t e s t o b j e c t i v e s and modus operandi n e c e s s i t a t e d c e r t a i n unique features i n t h e capsule designs f o r t h e s u r v e i l l a n c e t e s t s b e i n g conducted f o r t h e PBR.…”

“…0 t h e r d e s i g n p h i p l i f y caps c h a r a c t e r i f a c t o r s which c o n t r i b u t e t o g e n e r a l c a p s u l e losophy i n c l u d e : u l e d e s i g n , ( 2 ) t h e u s e of ambieat gamma h e a t i n g s t i c s f o r t e m p e r a t u r e c o n t r o l , ( 3 ) d e s i g n s t o minimize v a r i a t i o n s i n n e u t r o n exposure w i t h i n a c a p s u l e , and ( 4 ) a h e a t t r a n s f e r 1.path which i s as d i r e c t as p o s s i b l e y e t i s comnensurate w i t h c o n t r o l of temperature u n i f o r m i t y w i t h i n a c a p s u l e .…”

“…Sealing i s by manually operated r o l l e r which a p p l i e s on t h e cap a force F in the direction shown t o close and s e a l t h e cap- Air-tightness of t h e s e a l i n g was compared f o r t h e c a s e s (1) no packing between cap and body, ( 2 ) s e a l bonded w i t h c a r r i e d out under a p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e of 1 kg/cm2 between caps u l e i n t e r i o r and e x t e r i o r . Tightness t e s t s were a l s o conducted on capsules i r r a d i a t e d t o 1.3 x lG6 nvt ( f a s t ) , and under high temperature w h i l e being heated i n a n e l e c t r i c furnace.…”