The effect of temperature and control rod position on the spatial neutron flux distribution in the Syrian miniature neutron source reactor

The effect on the spatial neutron flux distribution for both of water and fuel temperature increase as well as the change in the control rod position are presented in the Syrian miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR). The cross-sections of all the reactor components at different temperatures are generated using the WIMSD4 code. These group constants are used then in the CITATION code to calculate the spatial neutron flux distribution at different water and fuel temperatures and different control rod positions using four energy groups. This work shows that the increase in water and fuel temperatures during the reactor daily operating time does not affect the spatial neutron flux distribution in the reactor. The change in the control rod position does not affect as well the spatial neutron flux distribution in the reactor except in the region around the control rod position.     

压水堆二次中子源替代一次中子源的初步可行性分析

在反应堆一次中子源供应存在风险的背景下,为分析压水堆二次中子源替代一次中子源的可行性,计算了二次中子源在运行机组辐照一个循环后的中子源强,并基于某新建CPR1000反应堆首循环堆芯参数及装料顺序,计算装料过程中堆内外各中子探测器的计数率。结果表明,二次中子源在结束辐照后的4个半衰期（约240 d）内用于替代CPR1000反应堆首循环一次中子源可满足技术规范对中子探测器计数率的要求,证明压水堆二次中子源替代一次中子源具有一定可行性。      

医院中子照射器反应堆实验研究

医院中子照射器是专用于硼中子俘获治疗的核装置,所用反应堆功率为30 kW,采用~(235)U富集度为12.5%的UO_2为燃料,金属铍反射层,轻水为慢化剂和冷却剂.堆芯产生的热量靠自然循环冷却.在反应堆堆芯相对两侧分别设置了热中子束流和超热中子束流,用于治疗患者.在微堆零功率实验装置上,完成了临界质量、控制棒效率、上铍反射层效率及其它部件反应性的测量,确定了最终燃料元件的装载,为工程物理启动提供实验数据.     

Albedo calculations for candidate fusion reactor materials used in the inboard side of a compact tokamak reactor and the effects of using such materials on the tritium breeding

In this paper the total neutron albedo and associated energy distributions for 10 candidate fusion reactor materials have been calculated. The angular distributions of reflected neutrons for monodirectional 14.1 MeV neutrons incident on slabs of Pb, Be, and W are presented and the dependence of albedo on neutron energy and incident angle has been investigated. Finally, the impact on the tritium breeding of the outboard blanket of the choice of material used in the inboard side of the reactor has been assessed. It has been found that the largest total neutron albedos are those of neutron multiplying materials, whilst among non-multiplying materials tungsten yields the largest albedo and B₁₀H₁₄ yields the lowest. Tritium breeding ratio (TBR) calculations have shown the inadequacy of the neutron albedo concept in predicting the impact of inboard materials on the TBR of the reactor.     

可逆比热容法测量反应堆中子注量率的可行性及应用前景

热分析仪器和测量技术的迅速发展为通过测量受辐照材料热性质的变化测量中子注量提供了可能。本文提出采用调制差示扫描量热（MDSC）法测量反应堆辐照的含硼材料可逆比热容的变化,进而得到反应堆的中子注量率。从理论和实验两方面讨论了利用该方法测量反应堆中子注量率的可行性。介绍了可逆比热容法测量反应堆中子注量率的原理和实验方法。展望了这种测量方法在测量高注量反应堆中子注量率的应用前景。     

Study of kinetic parameters in the RA-4 reactor by means of computational modeling and neutron noise measurements

It was carried out a study of the kinetic parameters of the reactor RA-4 (SUR-100 type reactor) by means of a simulation with calculation codes and a measurement with the neutron noise technique. For the simulation the WIMS (cell calculation) and PUMA (3D diffusion code to model a complete reactor) codes were used to estimate the ‘effective delayed neutron fraction’ (β_eff), the ‘prompt neutron generation time’ (Λ), and the ‘prompt neutron decay constant’ (α). In addition, a sensitivity analysis was made to determine the best nuclear data evaluations for this model and the influence of variables such as the mean speed of neutrons, the nuclear delayed neutron fraction and the delayed neutron fission spectrum. The neutron noise technique was used to determine α. The comparison between the results for the value of α obtained by the simulation and the experience shows a good agreement. In this way the validity of a diffusion calculation for a small reactor with important heterogeneities is verified, making certain modifications to avoid the limitations of this theory.     

双环路压水堆非对称入口条件下物理-热工特性研究

双环路压水堆存在反应堆入口流量、温度不对称的非正常运行工况。本文建立了基于CFD方法的反应堆整体三维流场模型,并耦合中子动力学计算程序和RELAP5程序,对这种非对称入口条件下的反应堆物理-热工特性进行了数值模拟。结果表明：反应堆入口流量不对称会加剧堆芯入口流量分配的不均匀性,并进一步导致局部功率变化,对反应堆安全不利;在入口温度不对称的条件下,冷却剂在下腔室的混合非常不充分,并导致堆芯入口温度分布不均匀,引起局部功率变化较大,对反应堆安全不利。     

Calculation of the effective delayed neutron fraction and the prompt neutron lifetime with the indigenously modified CEBIS code: MCEBIS

The CEBIS code has been modified to enable the calcination of both the effective delayed neutron fraction and prompt neutron generation lifetime in any nuclear thermal reactor, especially reactor types such as TRIGA, SLOWPOKE, and MNSR. The new version, called MCEBIS, includes sonie special subroutines which will be called up as part of the input to calculate the above two dynamic parameters. In addition, some control flags have been added to recognize any important reactor components such as beryllium as a reflector or heavy water as moderator and pence calculate their photo-neutron fractions.

The MCEBIS code has been tested using two reactor models: TRIGA and MNSR. These models were developed mainly to verify the modified code. Each model represents a 1-D neutronics model of the reactor. Calculated results for the effective delayed neutron fraction and prompt neutron generation lifetime in both reactors have been compared with published data. Good agreement with published results has been established.     

ADS次临界反应堆的点堆中子动力学方程

加速器驱动的次临界系统（ADS）中的次临界反应堆与临界反应堆相比,中子注量率的空间分布具有严重的不均匀性,同时中子平均能量较高且中子能量变化复杂,中子价值变化大,因而传统的点堆动力学方程不能较为真实地模拟ADS次临界反应堆。本文从含多群中子多组缓发中子先驱核的动力学方程出发,给出其共轭方程。然后利用稳态扩散方程及其共轭方程的共轭关系,推导得出含有归一化功率的动力学方程表达式。进而定义多个特征算子,导出了含有源中子价值的点堆中子动力学方程,并对几种简单情况进行了初步验证,为进一步分析ADS次临界反应堆的动态过程奠定了基础。     

熔盐堆物理热工耦合程序开发及验证分析

熔盐堆(Molten Salt Reactor,MSR)是第四代反应堆6种堆型中唯一的液态燃料反应堆,与固态燃料-液体冷却剂反应堆相比,原理上有较大不同。在熔盐堆中,流动的熔盐既是燃料又是冷却剂与慢化剂,中子物理学与热工水力学相互耦合;由于熔盐的流动性,缓发中子先驱核会随燃料流至堆芯外衰变,造成缓发中子的丢失,导致堆芯反应性降低。正是由于熔盐堆的这些新特性,造成熔盐堆内缓发中子先驱核、温度等参数变化与固态燃料反应堆有所不同,需要研究熔盐堆在各种工况下的相关物理参数变化。本文主要工作是考虑缓发中子先驱核的流动性对熔盐堆的影响,研究适用于熔盐堆的二维圆柱几何时空中子动力学程序及与之耦合的热工水力学程序;利用该程序对熔盐堆中子物理学和热工水力学进行耦合计算,验证熔盐堆相关实验数据;并且计算了熔盐堆无保护启停泵及堆芯入口温度过冷过热工况,用于分析熔盐堆的安全特性。计算结果表明,程序能够对熔盐反应堆实验(Molten Salt Reactor Experiment,MSRE)的相关实验数据进行较好的模拟计算,并且验证了熔盐堆的固有安全性。     

Calculation of neutron fluence in the region of the pressure vessel for the history of different reactors by using the Monte-Carlo-method

Embrittlement of pressure vessel material caused by neutron irradiation is a very important problem for VVER-440 reactors. For the estimation of the fracture risk highly reliable neutron fluence values are necessary. For this reason a special theoretical determination of space dependent neutron fluences has been performed mainly on the basis of Monte-Carlo calculations. The described method allows the accurate calculation of neutron fluences near the pressure vessel in the height of the core region for all reactor histories and loading cycles in an efficient manner. To illustrate the accuracy of the suggested method a comparison with experimental results was done. The calculated neutron fluence values can be used for planning the loading schemes of each reactor according to the safety requirements against brittle fracture.     

Effect of a cylindrical channel on neutron diffusion

Voids in the core of a nuclear reactor have an important effect on neutron leakage from the reactor. It is important that this effect be taken into account in computing the critical mass of the reactor. It is also frequently desirable to know the effect of empty channels on the neutron distribution outside the core.In the present paper we consider the effect of a single hollow cylindrical channel on neutron diffusion. Expressions are obtained for neutron leakage through a channel located at the center of the reactor and for the additional neutron leakage (due to the existence of the channel) in the immediate vicinity of the channel. We also consider the effect of the neutron flux distribution along a channel on the applicability of the diffusion formulas.In conclusion the author wishes to thank P. E. Stepanov for valuable discussions of the problems considered here.     

Modelling of the spatial distribution of the induced activities in the RBMK-1500 reactor graphite blocks and rings/sleeves

There is one nuclear power plant (NPP) in Lithuania – the Ignalina NPP – which is under decommissioning now. The Ignalina NPP has two units with RBMK-1500 reactors, which are the most powerful and the most advanced versions of RBMK-type reactor design. Unit 1 of the Ignalina NPP was shut down at the end of 2004 and Unit 2 was shut down at the end of 2009. RBMK is a water-cooled graphite-moderated channel-type power reactor and the decommissioning of these reactors faces specific challenges for proper characterisation and disposal of irradiated reactor graphite.Apart from radiological inventory, the spatial distribution of radionuclides in the reactor graphite is also very important because it could indicate the possibilities for decontamination/treatment of the irradiated graphite. This is important for consideration of the near surface disposal option for irradiated graphite, as without treatment it usually does not meet the waste acceptance criteria.Based on that, the work presented in this paper is focused on the modelling of the induced activity spatial distribution in the Ignalina NPP RBMK-1500 reactor graphite components: blocks and rings/sleeves. The modelling was performed with MCNP and SCALE computer codes and consisted of two mains stages: modelling of the neutron flux in the reactor graphite components, and then modelling of the neutron activation in them using the already modelled neutron flux. In such a way, the spatial induced activity distribution in the analysed reactor components was obtained. Modelling results show that the thermal neutron flux is more intensive in the outer radial regions of the graphite components and this, in general, results in higher induced activities there.     

铀水栅零功率反应堆的功率刻度

反应堆功率的测量,在堆功率高时一般用热工方法,功率低时,可用各种堆物理方法,如中子源引进法、中子统计法和全堆总裂变率法。 中子源引进法误差较大,中子统计法需知探测器在堆内的效率和堆的β_(aff)值,此二者都较难测量。全堆总裂变率法是由测量堆的总裂变率来求得堆功率,它可避免前面两种方法的缺点,但需依赖裂变率相对分布的     

理想化的实际反应堆内热中子有效增殖系数的定义及表达式的讨论

目前教科书中介绍的反应堆热中子有效增殖系数keff,是对无源中子的反应堆内的中子变化情况的准确定义及相应表达式的准确介绍,它能准确解释并描述中子在反应堆内六种物理过程中的变化情况。但用它作为一个统一的定义及表达式来描述并解释和计算有源中子存在的实际反应堆时,对于部分情况它既不能准确、清楚,又不能正确解释相应的物理过程,它的表达式也不能作为一个统一的表达式,按照它的定义计算得到相应的结果。且,目前,国内外工程研究人员还没有给出过实际反应堆内有源中子存在情况下的热中子有效增殖系数的定义及表达式。因此,特撰写此文,对考虑了源中子后的实际反应堆的热中子有效增殖系数,给出一个正确且准确的定义及相应表达式。     

Four energy group neutron flux distributions in the Syrian Miniature Neutron Source Reactor using the WIMSD4 and CITATION codes

A 3-D (R, θ, Z) neutronic model for the Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) was developed earlier to conduct the reactor neutronic analysis. The group constants for all the reactor components were generated using the WIMSD4 code. The reactor excess reactivity and the four group neutron flux distributions were calculated using the CITATION code. This model is used in this paper to calculate the pointwise four energy group neutron flux distributions in the MNSR versus the radius, angle and reactor axial directions. Good agreement is noticed between the measured and the calculated thermal neutron flux in the inner and the outer irradiation sites with relative differences less than 7% and 5%, respectively.     

用钴活化法测定反应堆中热中子积分通量

本文叙述了用钴活化法测定高通量堆中热中子积分通量的方法。测得的热中子积分通量值与计算值作了比较。本法适于测定在高通量堆中长期辐照的较高热中子积分通量。     

Calculation of reactivity and power factors depending on the external source location

We used the neutron diffusion equation with external neutron sources, in cartesian geometry and the two groups of energy, to verify the influence of external neutron source locations in the calculation of reactivity and power factors. To this end, the Coarse Mesh Finite Difference (CMFD) method was applied to the adjoint flux calculation and to simplify reactivity calculation in PWR type reactor, using the output of the Nodal Expansion Method (NEM). Different locations on the two-dimensional plane, as well as different types of fuel elements in the reactor core were used in the present study.     

用于硼中子俘获治疗的医院中子照射器的反应堆光致缓发中子参数

在介绍单群扩散方程基础上,引入堆芯和反射层的中子价值,根据考虑了光致缓发中子及其价值因素的点堆动态方程,建立了利用现有计算程序进行计算和分析的方法,分析了医院中子照射器光致缓发中子的特性参数,在原有6组缓发中子基础上增加了9组光致缓发中子,为进一步进行用于硼中子俘获治疗的医院中子照射器反应堆的点堆动力学研究提供了重要参数。