The calculation of methane profiles in AGR graphite structures

The MEDIC model has been extended in order that it may be applied to experiments carried out in the Windscale Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor (WAGR) to measure graphite radiolytic oxidation rates in thick specimens. Three aspects are covered: (a) the extension of the analysis of conventional WAGR nest assemblies to two dimensions rather than the infinite cylinder situation used in current assessments; (b) the examination of the effect of possible paths in WAGR nests; and (c) application of the model to the more complex geometry associated with WAGR inverted nest and rod type assemblies. It is demonstrated that only small errors are introduced into the analysis of WAGR nest data by making the assumption of infinite cylinder geometry. The effect of leakage paths within the nest assembly is also shown to be probably unimportant. (author)