Army Pulse Radiation FacilityU.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory
Science
Army Pulse Radiation Facility
U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory
Army Pulse Radiation Facility
[2] This value varies with experimental environment of core.
Table II.
Typical APRFR Performance Levels
PULSE MODE
Routine Yield 1.5 × 10¹⁷ fissions/pulse
Reactivity Insertion $1.10
Pulse Half-Width 48 μsec
Initial Prompt Period 18 μsec
Maximum Fuel Temperature Rise 400°C
Temperature Coefficient -0.3 cents/°C
Maximum Available Yield ~2.1 × 10¹⁷ fissions/pulse
STEADY STATE MODE
Continuous Operation ~1 kw
Intermittent Operation ~10 kw
Steady state power levels are limited by effectiveness of core cooling
system and core activation.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: APRF Floor Plan]
Exposure Locations and Performance Levels
The highest fluence and dose rates are available in the 1½-inch glory
hole. Since the reactor is supported from above by the transporter, the
areas around and below the core are also available for experiments.
The core can be positioned by remote control anywhere within the range
of travel of the transporter. Vertical travel is limited to about 44
feet above the Reactor Building floor level. Horizontal travel is
limited by the range of the rails on which the transporter travels. Six
pairs of rails extend radially from a turntable in the center of the
Reactor Building. These rails terminate within the Reactor Building,
except for one pair which extends 90 feet outside the building to an
outdoor test site. Each pair of rails defines one experimental location
where semi-permanent equipment and shielding can be set up without
tying up the entire reactor operation.
Fluence and flux data for three typical exposure locations are given in
Table III. In the absence of reflecting material beyond 1 meter from
core center (position P3), these values fall off essentially as
1
——
R²
where R is the distance to core center. Other performance data are
summarized in Tables IV through VIII.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Table III.
APRFR Fluence and Flux Data
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Routine Pulse Yield Maximum Pulse Yield
1.5 × 10¹⁷ Fissions 2.1 × 10¹⁷ Fissions
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fluence, n/cm²
P1[3] 6.7 × 10¹⁴ 9.3 × 10¹⁴
P2 2.0 × 10¹⁴ 2.8 × 10¹⁴
P3 1.7 × 10¹² 2.4 × 10¹²
Flux Density, n/cm²/sec
P1 1.4 × 10¹⁹ 2.0 × 10¹⁹
P2 4.3 × 10¹⁸ 6.0 × 10¹⁸
P3 3.7 × 10¹⁶ 5.2 × 10¹⁶
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