Date of Award

12-1992

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Engineering Physics

First Advisor

Ronald Tuttle, PhD

Abstract

Total hemispherical emittance was measured for the SP-100 reactor fuel cladding alloy (Nb-l% Zr). Based on a standard test method (ASTM C 835-82), experiments were conducted on a reference sample of oxidized stainless steel and then on a sample of actual cladding. The sample is heated in a vacuum by passing DC current through it until reaching equilibrium. Measurements are made of the electrical power dissipated in the sample and of the surface temperature. Using the Stefan-Boltzmann Law and some key assumptions concerning conductive and radiative heat transfer, the measured quantities are used to calculate emittance. Calculated values for unoxidized cladding range from 0.159 ± 5.35% at 913 K to 0.200 ± 4.51% at 1091 K. Highest value measured after onset of visible oxidation was 0.339 ± 3.92% at 1269 K.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GNE-ENP-92D-1

DTIC Accession Number

ADA270456

Comments

The author's Vita page is omitted.

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