ClC-f4 !?E!YX?

T COLLECTION
REF$RoD~JcT!oN
COPY

LOS ALAMOS SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY

LOS ALAMOS ~
~ of the =-- NEW MEXICO
University of California

CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES OF
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS

UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
CONTRACT W-7405 -ENG. 36
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1 J

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 LA-3219-MS
UC-46, CRITICALITY STUDIES
TID-4500 (38thEd.)

LOS ALAMOS SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY

LOS ALAMOS ~ of the === NEW MEXICO
University of California

Report written: October 1959

Report distributed:April 7, 1965

CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES OF
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS

by

Carroll B. Mills
I
 ABSTRACT

A number of critical assemblies were studied for reactor safety and

criticality evaluation reasons early in the nuclear powered rocket de-

velopment period. These were all of the H20 moderated $33 > $35, and

PU239 critical experiments and the relatively few D20, Be, BeO, and C

moderated, enriched l?35 critical experiments available that provided

simple parametric and extremes in type. The atomic densities and di-

mensions directly useful for computational purposes are listed for fast

to thermal flux spectrum assemblies.

 This report is concerned with the tabulation of a variety of critical.

assemblies, using as fissionable materials the three isotopes $33, $35

)
~d ~23$1
● Other transuranium isotopes will fission, on neutron absorp-

tion, but no others presently available in substantial quantities can

sustain a chain reaction alone for several reasons having to do With

fission cross sections and neutron flux. For one, the average energy of

the neutron flux in any MUltiplYiIIgsystem is below the fission threshold

of such isotopes as #38 ad ~2320 I!&iched isotopes only are used for

the major number of experiments to aiminish the effect of resonance ab-

sorption of nonfissionable companion isotopesg Also, there are many

more experiments using enriched $35 because it is most available and be-

cause of the greater interest during this early phase of atomic develop-

ment in simpler systems most easily made to chain react.

Table 1 describes critical.reactors in sufficient detail for a

calculation. The atomic ratio of moderator to fissionable isotope (fuel)

and the density in grams per cubic centimeter of the fissionable isotope

are usually given, so that the average atomic densities of the major com-

ponents are known. This, with the dimensions of the experiment, permits

a calculation with small error since the impurities not listed have small

effect on reactivity. The reflector is usually a pure material, so name,

dimension, and density are sufficient.

5
 Finite cylinder and rectangular parallelepipeds(slab) geometries

are transformed to infinite cylinder and slab in some instances by the

use of the geometrical buckling B2, including the reflector savings and

the mean extrapolation distance 6 in the dimension R-radius; L-length;

and a, b, c-length; in the form

()ff2
B2.=
‘m/sphere
= [(W)2+(~rlcyli.der

=[(:~+
‘;~+ ‘:~]slab

Container walls of water solutions are very thin aluminum or stainless

steel but may affect solution criticality significantly. Solid materials

are frequently assembled in a rectangular aluminum square element “honey-

comb” lattice, with an aluminum density ( p =6.191 of the full density

of 2.7 gin/cc)such that the effect on criticality is negligible in com-

parison ta geometrical effects. Also, neutron conservation by scattering

is alnmst exactly cancelled by absorption by the aluminum matrix. mis

is one example of the many cancellations that have sometimes resulted

in good results with poor analyses.

me larger number of experiments were made in connection with cri-

tical data for nuclear safety guidance. It is a curious fact that al-

though it is available in quantity very few experiments have been made

for a most important material, plutonium, except for impurity studies

and some shape-factor (effect of cylinder height to diameter ratio) work.

6
There are many experiments for l?35 SOI.UtAO.S, both bare and reflected

with water or paraffin, and a much smaller number for #330 Experiments

with the important reactor moderators D20, Be, BeO, and C are very few

in number but are frequently reported in more detail so that flux weight-

ed integrals (foil activation and fissioning density distribution) may

be studied. The few fast reactors have been studied in great detail,

but few dilute (e.g. low ~35,#38 atomic ratio) systems have been re-

ported.

The more complex critical assemblies, with several regions or at

high temperatures, are found in connection with the development of power

producing reactors. The most complex systems, which require large vari-

ations in material density and temperature, and which are most interest-

ing in connection with multidimensional calculations, are not now gener-

ally available for study. Only some early work on one of these sections

is reported here.

Operationally the experimental development of a critical assembly is

a separate and difficult discipline which will not be discussed here.

It consists essentially in the accumulation of discrete increments of

materials in arrays of interest, with a record kept of the mtitiplication

of a constant neutron source NO. The total multiplication to N of neu-

trons No (e.g. from a Po-Be source) in successive generations follows

the sequence

1
N
Ii. =
l+k+k2+“* +
● kn + ● ** = —
1 -k
where n is the number of generations, k is the increase in population

per generation, and the ratio N/NO is the multiplication of the neutron

source NO as determined by counting techniques using boron (nja) or

fission (n,F) detectors. Since the measuring times are much longer than

the delayed neutron lifetimes for most experimental studies, the neutron

flux transients may be ignored. It should be mentioned that all measure-

ments are made by remote control because of the effect of neutron moder-

ation by the human body and because a subcritical system is not very

different from a supercritical and hazardous one.

DETAILED CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES FOR ENRICHED FUEL

Critical experiments using high enrichment fuels are described in

Tables 1 through 6. The relatively few numbers tabulated here represent

an extreme simplification from sometimes difficult experimental config-

urations.

Reflector Moderated Reactors

1. #35 foilwith aD20reflecto#

A right circular cylindrical cavity 40 in. in height and diameter

surrounded by an 60 in. diameter and height right circular cylindrical re-

flector vas made critical with a thin layer of6.415 kgU(9j.~~ &35),

4.15 roilsthick, on the inside surface of the cavity. There was a 3/16

*
Communicated by G. I. Bell, W. Bernard, and C. C. Byers, LASL.

8
in. layer of aluminum separating cavity and reflector. H20 impurity was

0.775 by weight. (Calculations of an equal area and equal volume sphere

gave the same results-critical within approximately 14 in keff.)

2. I?35 with Be reflecto~

A right circular cylinder 31 in. in length and l% in. in diameter

was reflected by Be of density 1.77 gin/ccand thickness: top, 18 in.,

bottom, 15 in., and sides, 14 in.. The cavity was fueled to criticality

with 10.97 kg I?35 on the inner surface; with 9.01 kg $35 as a 3-ino-

thick cylindrical annulus leaving a ~-in.-diameter axial void; with

7.64 kg @_35 homogeneously distributed in the cavity; and with 10.04 kg

l?35 in the same homogeneous geometry but 16-in. core length. The latter

three experiments supported the I?35 in graphite with the atomic ratio

C/&35 = 7506. (keff for this set of experiments was computed to be 1.00 +

0.02.)

LOW ENRICHMENT CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES

Critical experiments with small concentrations of $35 in $38 are

described in Table 7. A few other low enrichment experiments exist, but

they are more concerned with geometry effects on criticality and were

made to establish reactor safety parameters. The largest number of these

experiments was made by D. F. Cronin (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

1
using 4.89 wt ~ #35 enriched uranium. These were reported in sufficient

detail to be directly useful in neutron cross-section studies.

*
Communicated by C. C. Byers and G. Jarvis, LASL.

9
 TA2L2L
CRITLCALEiL=moxr2

A - CriticUityIM.a for 835 ill2J2

At,aicRatio Ommity of IF33 Criticti Dimemloam (u) Re.imedCorm

@33 (Adcc) ceom.t~ Diameter Helgbt Reflector Radius’J
(m) 17mf9ranc9

>7.5 o.3m cylinder 1>.1 27.9 Pcrtif

in 6.n 2 p.lb
67.0 0.336 cylinder 15.1 29.0 Punffin 6.Ct? $?p. lb
iw.b 0.275 cylinder 15.1 30.7 Paraffin 6.00 i? 9.14
m 0.L98 cylinder 15.1 38.5 Pamffin 7.08 2p. L4
151 O.tio cylinder 15.1 k6.8 7.21 2 p. lb
154 0.165 cylinder 25.5 24.0 None 10.lb7 2 p. lk
193 0.L27 cylinder 15.1 73.0 Puaffin 7.39 2 p. 14
213 0.117 cyllnder 20.5 19.3 Pumffln 7.9b 2 p. 14
zk7 0.101 cylInder 20.5 21.2 in
Pu-aff 6.16 2 p. lb
3% 0.070 cyllnder 22.9 2L.j Puxffin 8.89 2 p. 14
379 0.0s7 cylinder 22.9 22.9 Putiin 9.10 s!p. 14
36L 0.C67 ●phem 31.9 -. !!one -- 2 p, lk
405 0.052 sphere 26.6 -- I$o -- Q p. 14
4L8 O.am sphere 26.4 .. ~o -- 2 p. 14
b% 0.060 aphere 26.6 -- B20 -. 3P. 6
y02 O.ow cylinder X.5 21.1 PUaffln 10.’10 2 p. 14
630 0.040 cylinder 30.5 23.6 Paraffin 11.25 2 p. 14
663 o.03& where 30.2 .- E20 -- >P. 8
7>7 0.0330 30.5 30.4 PUw?fln 12.27 2 p. lb
1532 o.oL6i6 spher9 69.2 -- Non. .- 4 p. 30
21G6 0.0L221 cylinder 15k.7 13.99 x0n9 62.5 sp. n
Note : Annlysiac.hewed
the C.amp.xltion
to be 97,6$ I?33,1.63j@34, 0.(%$ tf35, and o.~ @36 (Ref.6).

B - Criticality
Oat. for IF35 in E20

At.amic
Ratio Densityof IwJ CriticalDiaen.iOM (a) RwiucadCars
~/u235 (d cc) G20metl-y Sdnmeter Eei2bt Reflector Radius (a) R8fermlm

26.2 0.@7 Cylina.r 20.32 21.5 i320 6.16 7 p. 69

27.1 0.029 cylinder 15.2b 53.3 020 7.3JJ 8 p. 24
27.1 0.8?9 cylinder 25.4 36.9 nom 11.28 0 p. Zb
29.9 0.759 cyLinder 20.32 20.-7 E20 6.07 7 P. 69
>>.8 0.649 sphere 23.04 -- 820 -- 3P. 6
W.3 0.577 cylinder 16.51 38.7 Ii20 7.69 6 P. 2t
b4.3 0.938 cylinder 22.25 219.0 Hone 11.20 6 P. 24
bk.3 0.5>8 cylinder 2>.k 35.1 Kona L1.46 8 p. 2b
49.9 0.463 23.Ok -- 840 3P. 6
b7.3 0.483 8*em 22.i6 -- Rome 6 p. 2b
32.9 0.b59 cylinder 20.32 19.5 n20 7.91 7 P. 69
52.9 o.b59 cylinder 25.b 3b.o Hone 11.b 7 P. 69
58.8 0.h15 CY1inder 20.32 20.5 I$o 6.04 7 P. 69
73.b 0.337 cylinder 25.b 33.7 None 11.39 8 P. 2b
76.1 0.32> ●pbere 23.0 -- 620 6P.42
99.5 o.251b CY1infler 20.32 22.4 1120 6.26 ‘1P. 24
126.5 o.1997 qbem 23.6 -- lt20 b p. Jo
169.0 0.151 cylinder 25.k bl.2 none 11.6 7 P. 69
192.0 0.134 eyUnder 20.32 2b.1 H20 6.75 7 P. 69
203.5 o.u52 sphere 32.0 None 3 p. 18

10
 TA2L21 (m.tinued)

B . Lhti for 835 in H20

Criticality

Atamic Ratio Lhnmlr.y

0, I?35 CriticalDlmnsLonE (cm) Reduned Core
@235 (Ilq/cc) Wcmetry lli.metar Hetght Reflector Radius (cm) Ref ● reme

268.8 0.C951 sphere 26.4 .- E20 .- 3P. 8

290.0 O.om cyllnder 2u.32 40.1 H*O 9.33 ‘1P. 69
328.7 0.0767 cylinder 36.1 21.7 None 3.2.5 7 P. 69
W.O 0.0522 cylinder 38.1 16.90 Iizo le.-f 7 P. 69
499.0
0.0522 cylinder 38.1 27.k None 14.1 7 P. 69
755 0.0343 cylinder 36.1 b3.6 None 16.5 7 P. 69
755 0.0343 cylinder 38.1 27.10 Li20 13.6 7 P. 69
1000 0.0260 cylinder 38.1 W.30 E20 16.1 7 P. 69
lWO 0.0260 cylinder 50.8 38.3 H20 19.1 5P.77
1112 0.023J+ qimre 55.8 -- None -- b p. 30
L270 0.0204 sphere >>.8 -- 520 .- 6 p. 112
13W 0.Olea sphere 69.2 -- None -- IIp. 30
L9a o.o13cq cylinder L5k.7 203.3 None 66.5 5P. n

mOtG AMI.YS1..hw=d ~. .Omo.ittint-abe 1.04$I?34,93.lNlt?55,nnd 5.51$L?3b (Ref.6). ml. dds UP m 99.73$.

c- criticality Data for PU239 in Iioo

At.mic Ratio Densityof PIF39 Critical0i9emionn (cm) ReducedCore

~/ti239c
(d cc) 08.metry Dieaeter Height Reflector Radius (cm) Reference

397 62.E6 CY1inder 15.2ib 3-f.c6 -- L3.56 9

655 38.63 cylinder 15.2L 7&ok -- lb.-w 9
397 62.% cylinder 15.2k 25.77 E*O 10.52 9
655 38.63 cylinder 15.2b 32.6k H20 11.63 9
* 26.>> cylinder 15.2k 45.30 H20 13.19 9
—
●✎ Reflector effectively infinite; pcm.ff in demlty 0.69 KM/cc at 27°c md hydrogen coat.emt Lb.39w., $; =yLindervtils
typicnlly0.16OM Al, spheres 0.13 cm Al (8L1for Ref. 2 experiment.a).

b. Reduced radius is the criticu rc.diuo for an equivalent one-dimensional &c.metry; from equal eecmetrlcal buckling
(extrapolation distance dependent on flux .pectmm).

c. Pu Iiltrate dimolved in nitric acid (1.7Ii);tanktic 0.159cm thick;reflector 6 in.M20; m end reflector..

u
CJQCJ U3dol.+rl .-i
v
12
13
 h
v
0
.
iii
6
14
 cut+
*
 I I
I 1
I f
I I
I
&o(Nt- I I
8 Ltiolctd I I
CNcucucu
R
‘%
CN, ,o.=f, , ,* ,Wooln I n
+“
n
I I N-i& I I ! s“ I + Q“ a“ I
●
Into n r’otnto
M
Q
.
a-
l-i w
n
Q.
o
f’s d“
I
 cum
w“ w“
I.-Id
3“ 3“
17
v u
v
c1
a
h
i?!
4.4
n
u
z
il
t!
c1
o
 TAELE6

Pu/Oy/Be CRITICALITYLkWla

Concentric Shells

kg Pub kg Oy tBe(cm)

o 10.6 20.27 + 0.41

15. 4= 10.16
16.19 9.27 i 0.18
21.’7 5.lb4 * 0.07
22. 8C 5.06
27.$)11 3.264 * 0.033
31.9C 2.54
g. !5:4 2.22 * 0.C66
. 0

2.472 0 32 *4
2.14 20 *1
2.857 16.20 * O.m
5.5&5 8.67 * 0.09
8.340 5.60 k 0.04
13.842 2.74 & ().o~
19.355 1.36 * 0.02

3.217 0 21.0 * l.O

0.715 17.26 i 0.1
1.44 13.17 + 0.07
2.145 10.78 * 0.02
4.872 6.10 ● 0.05
7.63 3.e8 * ().04
13.13 1.77 * 0.01
18.64 0.67 & 0.01

3.933 0 13.0 * ().1

0.71.2 10.20 & 0.01
1.428 8.37 k 0.07
4.157 4.62 ● 0.02
6.912 2.90 & 0.02
12.414 1.23 * 0.01

4.664 0 8.17 * 0.03

3.445 3.57 * 0.04
6.20 2.09 ● 0.02
11.702 0.657 * 0.006

5.426 0 5.22 ● 0.02

2.729 2.66 i 0.01
5.4& 1.47 * 0.01

a. Tabulatedby J. E. Carothera,Lawrence RadiationLaboratory,Livenmre,

and R. Canada and G. E. Hanaen of LOS Alama ScientificLaboratxmy.

b. p(~) = 19.25, 13(oy, 93.17$) = 18.6, P(k) = 1.84.

c. LASL data.

19
20
 REFERENCES

1. Croninj D. F., “Critical Mass Studies, Part X, Uranium of Intermediate

Enrichment,” ORNL-2968,p. 46} I-%oe

2. Fox, J. K., Gilley, L. W., and Rohrer, E. R., “Critical Mass Studies,

Part VIII, Aqueous Solutions of U-235,” ORNL-2143, 1959.

3* Thomas, J. T., Fox, J. K., and Callihan, D., “A Direct Comparison

of some Nuclear Properties of U-233 and U-235,” ORNL-1992, 1955;

Thomas, J. T., “Applied Nuclear Physics Division annual report for

Period Ending Sept. 10, 1956,” ORNL-2081.

4. Magnuson, D. W., “Determination of ~ ofU233 by Comparison of

Critical Experiments in a 69.2 cm-dia. Sphere,” 0RIL2609, p. 29,

30, 1958.

5* Fox, J. K., Gilley, L. W., Givin, R., and Magnuson, D. W., “Neutron

Physics Division Annual Progress Report,” ORNL-2842, p. 77, 1959.

6. Fox, J. K., Gilley, L. W., Givin, R., and Thomas, J. T., “Critical

parameters of Uranium Solutions in Simple Geometries,” ORNL-2609,

p. 42, 1958.

7. Beck, C. K., Callihan, A. D., Morfitt, J. W., and Murray, R. L.,

“Critical Mass Studies, Part III,” K-343, 1949.

8. Fox, J. K., Gilley, L. W., and Callihan, D., “Critical Mass Studi~s,

Part IX, Aqueous U-235 Solutions,” ORNL-2367, 1958.

99 Horton, C. C. and McMullen, J. D., “Plutonium-Water Critical

Assembliesj” Proc. Int. Conf. on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy,

q, 1%, 1956.

21
10. Olcott, R. N., “Homogeneous Heavy Water Moderated Critical Assem-

blies,” Part 1, Experimental, N.S.E., ~, 327 (1956).

Il. Zimmerman, E. L., “TWO Beryllium-Moderated Critical Assemblies,”

ORNL-2201. 1958.

12. Kloverstrom, F. A., University of California at Livermore, communication.

13 ● Kloverstrom, F. A., Dick, R. M. R., and Reyenaga, A. J., “Critical

Measurements on Near-Homogeneous BeO-Moderated, Oralloy-Fueled

Systems,” UCRL-5369, pt. 1, 1959. Lingenfelter, R. E., “Criti-

cality Calculations of BeO-Moderated Oralloy Systems,” UCRL-5740,

1959.

140 Reynolds, H. L. and Kloverstrom, F. A., “Critical Measurements and

Calculations for Enriched Uranium Graphite-Moderated Systems,”

UCRL-5175, 1958.

15 ● Hansen, G. E., Hoogterp, J. C., Orndoff, J. D., and Paxton, H. c.,

“Beryllium-Reflected, Graphite-Moderated Critical Assemblies,”

LA-2141, 1957.

16. Paxton, H. C., “Critical Masses of Fissionable Metals as Basic

Nuclear Safety kta,” LA-1958, 1955.

17. Callihan, A. D. and Scott, D., “Preliminary Critical Assembly for

the Aircraft Reactor Experiment,” ORNL-1634, 1953.

18. Hansen, G. E., Los Alemos Scientific Laboratory, communication.

19. Kloverstrom, F. A. and Carothers, J., UCRL-k457, 1955 (classified).

20. Kloverstrom, F. A., “Spherical and Cylindrical Plutonium Critical

Masses,” UCRL-4957, September, 1957.

22
21. Finke, R. and Grammens, G., University of California at Livermore

California, communications on Hot Box experimental series.

22. Walford, J. G., Dounreay Experimental Criticality Laboratory,

communication, 1960.

23. Mihal.czo,John, ORNL, communication, 1960. See alSO Mihalczo, John

and Mills, C. B., “Criticality of Low Enrichment U235 ,* Hydrogen:

NUC. Sci. andEng. —11, 95 (1961).

SUPPLWNTARY REFERENCES

1. Kruesi, F. E., Erkman, J. O., and Lanning, D. D., “Critical Mass

Studies of Plutonium Solutions,” HW -24514, May 1952 (classified).

2. Fox, J. K. and Gilley, L. W., “Critical Parameters of a Proton

Moderated and Proton Reflected Slab of U-235,” CF 56-2-63, February

7, 1956.

3. Fox, J. K., Gilley, L. W., Callihan, A. D., ‘:CriticalMass Studies,

Part IX, Aqueous U-235 Solutions,” ORNL-2367, p. 25, 1958.

4. Hart, F. F. “Safety Tests for Melting and Casting Oralloy,” LA-1623,

December, 1953.

5. Masterson, R. H., Nee~ey~ v- I.> ~d powe~l> ‘O Jo) “Physics Re-

search Quarterly Report, “ USAEC Report HW-73116, Hanford Works,

Richhnd, April 1962.

23