CFBR-Ⅱ堆中子注量测量

介绍了分别用^239Pu裂变电离室、S活化片和CR-39固体径迹探测器测量CFBR-Ⅱ堆稳定功率运行和脉冲工况运行时的中子注量的实验及结果,用S活化片测量脉冲堆裂变产额的方法和原理。     

裂变率测量中的杂质影响及其消除方法

核裂变法是通过测量中子进行裂变率测量的重要方法．常用于热中子测量的裂变室有２３５Ｕ裂变室和２３９Ｐｕ裂变室，快中子测量可以用２３８Ｕ、２３２Ｔｈ和２３７Ｎｐ等裂变室．通常用于裂变室的可裂变核素是采用同位素分离方法或人工方法得到的，其中含有少量其他核素杂质．实验测量表明，少量能发生热裂变的杂质对快中子的测量有很大影响。利用热裂变修正方法和裂变室包镉方法可以消除这种影响。     

CFBR-Ⅱ堆脉冲中子注量测量

为了监测CFBR-Ⅱ堆辐照空间内脉冲中子注量,根据能谱随空间缓慢变化的特点,选择28个特征点,使用239Pu电离室对S活化片进行相对刻度,修正了不同空间区域能谱对S活化片测量的影响,测得了特征点的脉冲中子注量。该方法引入的不确定度为5%;脉冲产额为1.10×1016裂变时,距辐照腔底50mm处脉冲中子注量为5.87×1013cm-2;合成标准不确定度为11%。     

启明星1#次临界装置的裂变率分布

启明星1#次临界装置是我国为开展加速器驱动的次临界系统(ADS)研究而建立的国际上第1个具有快-热耦合结构的次临界反应堆实验装置。启明星1#次临界装置在确定的装载下、由不同能量的外中子源作用时,利用MCNP程序分别对装置快中子能谱区、热中子能谱区燃料元件的径向及轴向裂变率分布进行模拟计算,所使用外中子源的中子能量分别为2.5、5、14MeV。计算结果表明:在外中子源源强相同的情况下,源中子能量越高,裂变率越大;在源中子能量相同的情况下,次临界反应堆的轴向裂变率分布为中间高、两端低,径向裂变率分布在快中子能谱区先减小后增大,而热中子能谱区则是先增大后减小,然后,随着接近反射层又逐渐增大。该裂变率分布计算结果为后续实验测量和探测器布置提供了参考。     

反应堆快中子实验装置辐射场参数测量

利用多箔活化法测量了设计的反应堆快中子实验装置的中子能谱及中子注量,并采用Monte Carlo方法分析了能谱的不确定度.用热释光剂量片法测量了装置的γ剂量.装置各参数测量结果均达到了预期的设计指标.     

基于活化法及MCNP程序的临界装置功率刻度

介绍了临界装置功率刻度的方法,在不同功率台阶下利用活化法测量临界装置的中子注量率分布及归一点的绝对中子注量率,并利用经修改编译的MCNP程序对临界装置的中子注量率分布进行校核计算。基于中子注量率测量及计算结果通过裂变率法计算不同功率台阶下临界装置的功率,同时外推到堆芯最大热中子注量率为1×10⁸cm^-2•s^-1时的功率,实现了临界装置的功率刻度。     

CFBR-Ⅱ堆脉冲中子注量测量

为了监测CFBR-Ⅱ堆辐照空间内脉冲中子注量,根据能谱随空间缓慢变化的特点,选择28个特征点,使用239pu电离室对S活化片进行相对刻度,修正了不同空间区域能谱对S活化片测量的影响,测得了特征点的脉冲中子注量.该方法引入的不确定度为5%;脉冲产额为1.10×1016裂变时,距辐照腔底50mm处脉冲中子注量为5.87×1013 cm-2;合成标准不确定度为11%.     

用半导体探测器测量堆中子通量

在GM-5半导体探测器对面放置一个~(239)Pu裂变源片,将此探头插入到零功率基准中心,测量堆中心绝对快中子通量。探头沿孔道可以精细到每隔5mm二个测点,得到活性区径向中子通量分布。采用~9239)Pu核作裂变靶是考虑到该核的快中子裂变截面对中子能谱不灵敏。而半导体探测器体积小,能插入到直径只有15mm的小孔道中。 用半导体探测器测量中子通量实际是记录~(239)Pu转换靶的裂变事件数。假定探测器的灵敏面对裂变靶片所张立体角为θ,则可探测到α粒子计数率为Aα     

活化法测量散裂靶中子能谱的实验验证

散裂靶中子的能谱对加速器驱动次临界系统的倍增因数和嬗变率等影响很大,计算表明散裂靶中子谱在MeV能区与裂变中子谱相近。本文利用活化法测量临界装置的泄漏中子谱和中子注量率,提出了用In、Al、Mg、Ti、Au、Zn、Ni、Rh、Fe和Co等活化箔测量散裂靶中子能谱和中子注量率的方案。结果表明,将活化箔在散裂靶中子场中辐照5h,中子注量最高达5×1014 cm-2量级,辐照后1h内取出活化箔,根据半衰期的长短安排测量顺序,可测量散裂靶的中子能谱和中子注量率。     

IHNI-1中子束快中子注量率测量

为检验和确定用于硼中子俘获治疗(BNCT)的医院中子照射器(IHNI-1)的快中子污染源项,设计了用于快中子注量率测量的包硼~(235)U裂变电离室。利用MCNP程序对电离室的注量响应进行优化设计,计算包裹不同厚度硼壳时电离室的注量响应曲线,最终选择35mm厚B4C壳作为低能中子屏蔽层。利用该电离室测量IHNI-1热中子和超热中子束的快中子注量率,并与模拟计算值比较。结果显示,实测的中子束比模拟计算结果具有更多的快中子成分,低于国际原子能机构(IAEA)推荐的目标值。     

用于CSNS反角白光中子能谱及注量率测量的快裂变室

即将建成的中国散裂中子源(China Spallation Neutron Source,CSNS)反角白光中子束线可为核数据测量提供高注量率的脉冲白光中子束流,填补我国核数据测量用白光中子源的空白,提高我国核数据测量水平,满足核能、核技术及基础核物理研究对核数据的需求。该束线建成后,其中子能谱及注量率的精确测量将是开展其它物理实验的基础,快裂变电离室因其独特优点被选为中子能谱和注量率测量探测器。通过实验研究了快裂变电离室的粒子分辨性能、时间分辨性能;确定阴、阳极的合理间距为10 mm,据此测得电离室的时间分辨约15 ns;利用235U样品量计算的探测效率与利用伴随粒子法给出的探测效率在不确定度范围内符合,因此可以标定快裂变室的探测效率。通过这些工作,完成了满足反角白光中子束能谱及注量率测量需求的快裂变室的物理设计。     

<Superscript>239</Superscript>Pu prompt fission neutron spectra

Calculations of ²³⁹Pu(n, F) prompt fission neutron spectra have been performed for neutron energy up to 20 MeV. The exclusive spectra of pre-fission neutron reactions (n, xnf) were calculated on the basis of the Hauser-Feshbach model simultaneously with the cross sections of (n, F) and (n, 2n) reactions. The spectra of neutrons emitted by fission fragments were approximated by a sum of two Watt distributions. The components of the prompt fission neutron spectra due to pre-fission neutrons are manifested in the prompt fission neutron spectra and the average neutron energy. A correlation is established between this effect in the contribution of emissive fission (n, xnf) in the fission cross-section of ²³⁹Pu(n, F) and ²³⁵U(n, F). It is shown that the ²³⁹Pu(n, F) prompt fission neutron spectra used in applied calculations do not correspond to the experimental differential data and the systematic regularities in the spectra and their average energy found for the most carefully studied nuclei ^235,238U and ²³²Th. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 103, No. 2, pp. 119–124, August, 2007.     

Measurement of the 239Pu(n,f) cross section from thermal up to 30 keV neutron energy

At GELINA measurements of the ²³⁹Pu fission cross-section were performed covering the neutron energy region from thermal up to 30 keV. Fission fragment as well as fission neutron detection techniques were used. Also for the neutron flux determination different methods were applied. From the σ_f-data, several fission integrals were calculated and compared with other results.     

Analyses with latest major nuclear data libraries of the fission rate ratios for several TRU nuclides in the FCA-IX experiments

In the 1980s, a series of integral experiments was conducted in FCA-IX assemblies with systematically changed neutron spectra covering from the intermediate to fast ones. The experiments provide systematic data of central fission rates for TRU nuclides containing minor actinides, ²³⁷Np, ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴²Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ²⁴³Am, and ²⁴⁴Cm. Regarding the fission rate ratios relative to ²³⁹Pu, benchmark models had been recently developed for validation of nuclear data for the TRU's fission cross sections. In this paper, the latest major nuclear data libraries, JENDL-4.0, ENDF/B-VII.1, and JEFF-3.2, are compared on the benchmark models. For the libraries, the analyses by a Monte Carlo calculation code show obvious overestimations particularly for the fission rate ratios of ²⁴⁴Cm to ²³⁹Pu. Additionally, a large discrepancy about by 20% between the libraries is revealed for the fission rate ratio of ²³⁸Pu to ²³⁹Pu measured in the intermediate neutron spectrum. The causes of discrepancies are furthermore clarified by sensitivity analyses.     

Development of a data acquisition and control system for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor neutron flux monitor

To satisfy high-precision, wide-range, and real-time neutron flux measurement requirements by the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER), a data acquisition and control system based on fission chamber detectors and fast controller technology, has been developed for neutron flux monitor in ITER Equatorial Port #7. The signal processing units which are based on a field programmable gate array and the PXI Express platform are designed to realize the neutron flux measurement with 1 ms time resolution and a fast response less than 0.2 ms,together with real-time timestamps provided by a timing board. The application of the widerange algorithm allows the system to measure up to 10~(10) cps with a relative error of less than 5%.Furthermore, the system is managed and controlled by a software based on the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System, compliant with COntrol, Data Access and Communication architecture.     

Fission cross-sections of U and Pu averaged over Cf neutron spectrum

A series of measurements have been carried out to derive values for the spectrum-averaged fission cross-section of ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu for ²⁵²Cf fission neutrons. Two nearly identical target foils were mounted on either side of a Cf source (10⁷ neutron/sec) in a compensated beam geometry. Fission fragments passing through limited solid angle apertures were recorded from each foil by solid-state track-etch techniques. The Cf neutron source strength was calibrated in manganese bath relative to the standard source NBS-II. Values of 1.215 ± 0.022 barn for ²³⁵U and 1.790 ± 0.041 barn for ²³⁹Pu were obtained for the fission cross-sections, corresponding to a ratio value of 1.473 ± 0.041.     

Measurement and analysis of fission rates in depleted uranium and depleted uranium–polyethylene shells with neutrons from D-T reaction

To validate the concept design of a novel fusion–fission hybrid energy reactor, a depleted uranium assembly and a combined assembly of uranium and polyethylene were designed and assembled based on a depleted uranium spherical shell and a polyethylene spherical shell. The distribution of the fission rates for the depleted uranium and enriched uranium in the two assemblies, as a function of the distance of the detection position to the centre, was measured using a plate fission chamber bombarded by D-T neutrons. The addition of a polyethylene shell significantly changed the neutron spectrum; in particular, the neutron fluxes with energies of 1 MeV and lower were changed. Using MCNP5 and the attached libraries, the fission rate experiments were simulated, and the experimental configuration, including the wall of the experimental hall, was described in detail in the model. The fission rate distributions for depleted uranium and enriched uranium in the two assemblies were reproducible. The difference between the calculated results with different libraries and different tallies is as small as 1.0%. By considering the neutron flux, the fission rate and the C/E values, it is concluded that the fission rates of depleted uranium and enriched uranium induced by the fast neutrons were overestimated, and it is proposed that the fission parameters of uranium for fast neutrons should be re-evaluated, or the margin of the concept design should be enlarged, to make the concept effective.     

Simplified Method for Calculation of Neutron Capture Transformation Effects of Fission Products on Decay Power

A simplified method is proposed for the calculation of the effects of neutron capture transformations of fission products (FPs) on the decay power of FPs. The decay power of FPs after shutdown changes by the neutron capture transformations of FP nuclides during reactor operation. It is proposed to calculate the neutron capture transformation effects considering the production of the following 7 nuclides ¹⁰³Ru, ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁶Cs, ^148mPm, ¹⁴⁸Pm, ¹⁵⁴Eu and ¹⁵⁶Eu by the neutron capture reaction of the direct mother nuclide alone giving a cumulative fission yield for the mother nuclide. The present method was assessed by com-paring the calculation results with the rigorous calculation results for the thermal-neutron fission of ²³⁵U irradiated between 1 and 5 yr in a light water reactor with thermal-nentron flux between 3 x 10¹³ and 6 x 10¹³ n/cm²·s and for the fast-neutron fission of ²³⁹Pu irradiated between 1 and 5 yr in a fast breeder reactor with total neutron flux between 3 x 10¹⁵ and 6 x 10¹⁵ n/cm²·s. It has been clarified that the present method can calculate the neutron capture transformation effects within the accuracy of ±1% of the decay power for the irradiation of 1yr and cooling time less than 10⁹s irrespective of fission type and neutron flux. The accuracy varies little with neutron flux but considerably with irradiation time. For a irradiation of 5 yr the present method can calculate the capture effect within the accuracy of +1% and -5% of the decay power. The accuracy can be improved to ±1% of the decay power with the simple correction factors.     

Study of the neutron multiplication effect in an active neutron method

The neutron multiplication effect appears when an item contains large amounts of nuclear material. The neutron multiplication effect in this paper means the effect of subsequent fission reactions which are caused by fission neutrons produced by interrogation neutrons from a neutron generator. The previous active neutron method could not distinguish between first-fission and subsequent-fission neutrons and might overestimate the amount of nuclear material. However, the neutron multiplication effect in the active neutron method has not been adequately investigated. We discuss the evaluation method of the multiplication effect in the fast neutron direct interrogation method, one of the active neutron methods, using simulations with the Monte Carlo code MVP and experiments involving uranium waste drums. The first-generation neutrons from an external neutron source generate fission neutrons called second-generation neutrons, the second-generation neutrons generate third-generation neutrons, and so on. This study supposes that the neutron multiplication effect is mainly caused by the third-generation neutrons under the condition that the fourth-generation neutrons are much fewer. This paper proposes a correction method for the neutron multiplication effect in the measured data.