PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE PEACH BOTTOM HTGR PRIMARY COOLANT SYSTEM Results of Postconstruction R and D Test JM-14 'Removal and Analysis of Main-Loop Particulate Matter'

摘要

Particulate matter present in small quantities in the primary cir¬cuit of the Peach Bottom High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor has been studied. Samples were collected by Philadelphia Electric Company and analyzed by Gulf General Atomic in order to characterize the particulate matter, and to determine its role in the transport and deposition of fission products.nThroughout Core 1 operation, the particulate matter consisted pri¬marily of construction debris--weld spatter, grinding chips, shreds of stainless steel insulation, fibrous wool-like material, and fine black dust. Fuel compact material began appearing as cracks developed in certain fuel element sleeves, but the amounts were very small. At 300 equivalent full-power days, with about 1.4% of the fuel element sleeves cracked, only 4x10-7 fraction of the fuel compact material was estimated to have been released to the primary coolant. Less than three hundred grams of particulate matter of all kinds were removed from the primary circuit dust separators during Core 1 operation.