Research and Development Division Sixth Semi-Annual Report for the Period 1st January, 1963 to 30th June, 1963. Dragon Project Report

A proposal for the first core loading of the Reactor experiment is now completed. The concentrations of fissile and fertile materials in the fuel elements are specified. The experience gained from the specification of the first loading and the preceding studies of methods to calculate the power and temperature distribution, the control rod effectiveness, and the resonance capture in thorium were summarised in B.P. Reports 178, 179 and 180. A draft programme for the physics experiments for the commissioning period and for the power operation of the Reactor experiment was set up. The analysis of some Zenith experiments was again reviewed with refined methods of calculation, developed during the previous investigations. In preparation for fuel cycle and reshuffling studies and fuel cost analysis for HTGC reactors a one—dimensional burn—up programme was established, which has reshuffling and reloading subroutines, and takes into account spectrum changes during burn-up.