Thermal Column (TC) | Radiation Center | Oregon State University

A man in a lab coat standing in front of a grey square thermal column.

Description

The Thermal Column is a facility located outside on the east side of the core. It is a large, boral-lined, graphite-filled container with the graphite sectioned into “stringers," each 4 inches by 4 inches and 4 feet in length. Samples are placed in the center of the thermal column where one stringer has been permanently removed. Since the facility is located adjacent to the reactor and is surrounded by graphite, the samples primarily experience thermal neutrons. This facility is primarily used for fission track dating but has been used for other low-fluence thermal neutron irradiations.

Sample Size/Encapsulation

Sample Size Limitations

Width: 0.9 inches

Length: 4.0 inches

Poly tubes on a wooden table next to a ruler to demonstrate scale.

Encapsulation Limitations

Cadmium Covers	Physical Form of Material	Minimum Containment
Cadmium Covers	Physical Form of Material	Primary	Secondary
With or Without Cadmium Covers	Stable Solid	Polyethylene TRIGA tube or other equivalent plastic containment	Not required
With or Without Cadmium Covers	Liquid, Powder or Other Loose Solid Material	Sealed polyethylene container	Polyethylene container