Spert I Destructive Test Program Safety Analysis Report

Transient Temperature Distributions in the Spert I D-12/25 Fuel Plates During Short-Period Power Excursions

“…In the destructive test program [1,2] of the Spert I alimiinum-clad, platetype core (designated the D Core), a series of step-initiated power excursion tests was performed, with asymptotic reactor periods in the range from about 1.3 sec to 3.2 msec. For periods as short as 6 msec, damage was restricted primarily to fuel plate distortion, and, as observed in some fuel plates, to temporary loss of tensile strength.…”

Reactor Stability Tests in the Spert Iv Facility

“…At various reactivity levels, the reactor power (which was displayed on oscilloscopes and examined continuously for evidence of approaching instabilities) was recorded on magnetic tape for about five minutes after the mean power had reached an approximate equilibrium level. Figures 5,6,and 7 show representative samples of the reactor power for various total reactivity insertions from 0.4$ to 4.2$. It can be seen in these figures that the reactor power began to exhibit moderate oscillatory behavior with a total reactivity insertion of 1.8$.…”

Nuclear Start-Up of the Spert Iv Reactor

“…From previous studies in Spert I [3], using a core with similar geometry and equal fuel plate enrichment, the critical mass was expected to be approximately 3 kg of U-235.…”