Neutron-physical calculations and experiments on a reactor in the first nuclear power plant built in the world

Methods for performing neutron-physical calculations of a reactor and the experiments performed during physical startup and subsequent operation are described. Starting with the simplest one-dimensional calculations during the reactor design process, the operation of the reactor is completed with three-dimensional calculations taking account of the heterogeneous structure of the core.Among the experiments investigations of the effect of water entering the graphite masonry during an accident with the fuel assemblies on the reactivity should be singled out.The method of partial fuel reloading, making it possible to decrease fuel-assembly burnout, has been implemented for the first time for the AM reactor.__________Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 98, No. 1, pp. 13–18, January, 2005.