Prompt burst energetics experiments uranium carbide series

A series of three prompt burst energetics (PBE) experiments utilizing fresh uranium carbide fuel and stagnant sodium coolant were performed in Sandia Laboratories Annular Core Pulse Reactor (ACPR). These experiments (PBE-SG1, -SG2, and -SG3) were collaborative efforts between the Breeder Reactor Project, GfK, Karlsruhe, West Germany, and Sandia Laboratories. PBE experiments are designed to study the energetic response of various reactor fuel-clad-coolant systems under superprompt critical conditions. The direct aim is to identify and characterize the phenomena resulting in pressure generation and the conversion of thermal energy to work