HFIR HB-4 Cold Source Test Data

Abstract

A cold source cooled by forced circulation of cryogenic hydrogen has been installed in the HB-4 beam tube of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). Cold source testing was performed prior to reactor operation in a temporary configuration with an electric test heater assembly installed to apply a representative non-nuclear heat load to the cryogenic system. This report presents test results collected during both the special testing phase as well as the first few cycles of reactor operation after installation of the cold source. The test results include both the raw data versus time (pressures, temperatures, flow rates, valve positions, etc.) and data analyses to evaluate and correlate items such as circulation loop pressure drop, circulator performance, heat in-leakage through the vacuum insulation, refrigerator cooling capacity, and nuclear heat generation in the cold source components.