High temperature pile irradiation of the n‐heptane‐hydrogen system

Abstract

A pilot unit for the high‐temperature irradiation of flowing reactants was designed for the beam port of a nuclear reactor. Radiation‐thermal cracking of the n‐heptane‐hydrogen system was studied with molal H₂/C₇ ratios from 0 to 5 at 250 lb./sq. in., 600° to 750°F., 2 to 8 min. residence time, and up to 3,600 rep./min. Although conversions were low, the decomposition rate was significantly increased by radiation giving G values > 10³. Product distributions were not significantly altered by radiation. These results, while different from low‐temperature data, appear consistent with other published high‐temperature results. Radiation yields were found to be reasonably linear with total dose from 0 to 14 krep., but a twofold increase was observed in passing from a molal H₂/C₇ ratio of 0 to 0.5.