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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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New coolants, new fuels: A new generation of university reactors
Here’s an easy way to make aging U.S. power reactors look relatively youthful: Compare them (average age: 43) with the nation’s university research reactors. The 25 operating today have been licensed for an average of about 58 years.
John T. Holmes, Grant O. Haroldsen
Nuclear Technology | Volume 21 | Number 3 | March 1974 | Pages 228-234
Technical Paper | Instrument | doi.org/10.13182/NT74-A31393
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) primary sodium system is equipped with continuous monitors for oxygen and hydrogen impurities in the sodium. The sensors of these monitors have been incorporated into a modularized system that was developed for nuclear reactor applications for sodium temperature and sodium flow-rate conditioning. The oxygen meter calibration is provided by periodic analysis of the oxygen in sodium by the vanadium-equilibration method. The hydrogen meter is a direct reading device and does not require on-line calibration. Typically, the impurity content of the sodium has been shown to be quite stable at 0.6- to 1.0-ppm oxygen and 0.06- to 0.08-ppm hydrogen. On-line carbon monitors are not presently in use at EBR-II. A single determination of the chemical activity carbon in sodium gave a result of 0.002 relative to graphite and is about the same value as measured in other “clean” stainless steel-sodium systems. Plans are being made to equip the EBR-II secondary system with ten hydrogen meters that will be used for detecting the onset of steam-to-sodium leaks such that corrective action can be taken before the leak enlarges and propagates to adjacent tubes.