[ RadSafe ] Liquid fuel reactors

[Neil, David M]

Back in 1940, Robert Heinlein wrote a short story that revolved around a reactor and the supposed psychological stresses on the operators. While short on technical specs, a reference to the shutdown process made it obvious it was a liquid metal core.  One of these must be what he modeled it on.

"Blowups Happen", if anyone wants to go looking for it. Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowups_Happen

Dave Neil

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of James Barnes
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 1:15 PM
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Liquid fuel reactors



Also wikipedia:  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueous_homogeneous_reactor
 
Jim Barnes
 
Yes, there was a liquid fuel reactor prototype back in the old days, the 1940s 
at Los Alamos and 50s at Oak Ridge:  the homogeneous reactor.  There also was 
the homogeneous thorium breeder reactor.  Basically, a homogeneous reactor is 
one in which the fuel, a uranyl salt, is evenly dispersed in the moderator, 
light or heavy water or a liquid metal.  Details were reported by S.E. Beall and 
J. A. Swarthout in their presentation "The Homogeneous Reactor Test" in 
conference in Geneva in 1955.  Or, if you have access to some old nuclear 
engineering textbook, see pages 179-187 in Nuclear Science and Reactors, by 
Jacobs, Kline and Remick, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc, 1960.

The first homogeneous reactors of this type (Lopo) was built at Los Alamos and 
went critical in May of 1944 at 0.05 watts.  Further models were called Hypo and 
Supo (pages 143 - 148, op.cit.)

As always, the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Kjell Johansen
Two Rivers, WI
kjell.johansen at NextERAEnergy.com



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________________________________

From: "Johansen, Kjell" <Kjell.Johansen at nexteraenergy.com>
To: "radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu" <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Sent: Wed, March 30, 2011 10:39:50 AM
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Liquid fuel reactors
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