The problem of the use of organic compounds as moderators in nuclear reactors

Summary 1. Replacement of water by organic liquids in water-water reactors did not lead to an essential increase in the critical volume of the reactor. A slight increase in the volume of the active zone occurred due to the escape of neutrons from the reactor. 2. The neutron age in organic liquids in...
Ausführliche Beschreibung

Summary 1. Replacement of water by organic liquids in water-water reactors did not lead to an essential increase in the critical volume of the reactor. A slight increase in the volume of the active zone occurred due to the escape of neutrons from the reactor. 2. The neutron age in organic liquids increased more slowly than the concentration of hydrogen nuclei in them fell. 3. Due to the presence of carbon in the organic liquids, the value of the neutron ager in them was much less than in water (at the same concentration of hydrogen nuclei). This property of organic liquids of the isoamyl alcohol type offers prospects of their use in biological shields of small nuclear reactors. 4. To obtain more accurate results, comparative experiments on reactors with organic moderators are best carried out on less enriched uranium. Ausführliche Beschreibung