MC simulation of thermal neutron flux of large samples irradiated by 14 MeV neutrons

The response of a 14 MeV neutron-based prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) system, i.e.the prompt gamma-rays count rate and the average thermal neutron flux, is studied with a large concrete sample and with a homogeneous large sample, which is made of polyethylene and metal with various concentrations of hydrogen and cadmium using the MCNP-5 (Monte Carlo N-Particle) code. The average thermal neutron flux is determined by the analysis of the prompt gamma-rays using the thermal neutron activation of hydrogen in the sample, and the thermal and fast neutron activation of carbon graphite irradiation chamber of the PGNAA-system. Our results demonstrated that the graphite irradiation chamber of the PGNAA-system fairly operates, and is useful to estimate the average thermal neutron flux of large samples with various compositions irradiated by 14 MeV neutrons.     

Neutron Transport Benchmark Calculations, (I)

Five benchmark problems were selected as standards for the evaluation of calculations on neutron penetration. For three of these problems there were available reliable experimental results obtained in absolute intensities of the neutron angular spectrum in graphite and in water and of the neutron reaction rate in a two-dimensional water shield. The two remaining problems were based on PALLAS transport calculations in graphite and in water in plane geometry. For the first three problems, comparisons were made between the results of PALLAS calculations using ENDF/B-I cross sections and those obtained by experiment. It is concluded that the PALLAS calculations result in fairly good agreement with experiment, except at certain spatial meshes in two-dimensional geometry, due to ray effect. Comparisons are also made of the angular flux spectrum in graphite between calculations using ENDF/B-I and B-III data, as well of the scalar flux spectrum in water between those by PALLAS and by ANISN codes.     

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.     

Neutron beam design for both medical neutron capture therapy and industrial neutron radiography for TRIGA reactor

Neutron beam designs were studied for TRIGA reactor with a view to generating thermal, epithermal and fast neutron beams for both medical neutron capture therapy (NCT) and industrial neutron radiography (NR). The beams are delivered from thermal and thermalizing columns, and also horizontal beam hole. Several prospective neutron filters (high-density graphite (G), bismuth (Bi), single-crystal silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), aluminum fluoride (AlF₃) and lead fluoride (PbF₂)) were examined for obtaining sufficiently intense neutron beam for various applications. Monte Carlo calculations indicated that with a suitable neutron filter arrangement, thermal and epithermal neutron beams attaining 2×10⁹ and 7×10⁸ n cm⁻²S⁻¹, respectively, could be obtainable from thermal and thermalizing columns with the reactor operating at 100 kW. These neutron beams could be adopted for boron neutron capture therapy. Compared with these columns, horizontal beam port would deliver neutron fluxes of 10⁻² 10⁻³ lower intensity, but produced thermal and neutron beams would be adequate for different application of nondestructive inspection by neutron radiography.     

Thermal neutron self-shielding correction factors for large sample instrumental neutron activation analysis using the MCNP code

Thermal neutron self-shielding within large samples was studied using the Monte Carlo neutron transport code MCNP. The code enabled a three-dimensional modeling of the actual source and geometry configuration including reactor core, graphite pile and sample. Neutron flux self-shielding correction factors derived for a set of materials of interest for large sample neutron activation analysis are presented and evaluated. Simulations were experimentally verified by measurements performed using activation foils. The results of this study can be applied in order to determine neutron self-shielding factors of unknown samples from the thermal neutron fluxes measured at the surface of the sample.     

Effects of Spatial Harmonics on Thermal Neutron Spectra Measured by Time-of-Flight Method

Spatial effect—the variations in space of transient neutron flux noted in pulsed neutron experiments, and which is ascribable to the occurrence in moderator of spatial harmonics—is studied on the measured flight time spectra of neutrons reentering the atmosphere from parametrically varied depths of a graphite moderator. Measurements were made using moderator slabs of two different axial lengths, to examine the influence of differences in moderator size on the spatial effect. The master equation representing the scalar neutron flux as function of time and energy is solved by a semi-analytic method that takes account of spatial harmonics. Simulation of the solution thus obtained of the master equation proved to reproduce the measured flight time spectra with good accuracy. It was indicated that the spatial effect on the thermal neutron spectrum is stronger with a larger than with a smaller moderator slab. The neutron temperature in graphite moderator was calculated by formula fitted in Maxwellian distribution to the peaks of the thermal neutron spectra. It was indicated that in a graphite moderator of 120 cm axial length, spatial harmonics caused a variation of more than 40 K in neutron temperature between depths in moderator differing by 30 cm.     

Calculation of thermal neutron self-shielding correction factors for aqueous bulk sample prompt gamma neutron activation analysis using the MCNP code

In this work thermal neutron self-shielding in aqueous bulk samples containing neutron absorbing materials is studied using bulk sample prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (BSPGNAA) with the MCNP code. The code was used to perform three dimensional simulations of a neutron source, neutron detector and sample of various material compositions. The MCNP model was validated against experimental measurements of the neutron flux performed using a BF₃ detector. Simulations were performed to predict thermal neutron self-shielding in aqueous bulk samples containing neutron absorbing solutes. In practice, the MCNP calculations are combined with experimental measurements of the relative thermal neutron flux over the sample’s surface, with respect to a reference water sample, to derive the thermal neutron self-shielding within the sample. The proposed methodology can be used for the determination of the elemental concentration of unknown aqueous samples by BSPGNAA where knowledge of the average thermal neutron flux within the sample volume is required.     

Measurement of neutron spectra in the thermal column of the reactor of a power station

Knowledge of neutron spectra In nuclear reactors allows comparison of various theories of the slowing down of neutrons with experiment, and also allows carrying out reactor calculations which are based on actual neutron distributions therein. In this paper is described a neutron intensity monochtomator Intended for the measurement of neutron spectra in the energy interval 0 to 0.5 ev.Results are given for measurements for neutron spectra in the thermal column of the reactor of an atomic power station. Discontinuities in the neutron flux were discovered at neutron velocities of 600, 1000 and 1650 m/sec; an analysis is given of the causes of discontinuities of the neutron flux; an evaluation is made of the inelastic scattering cross section for neutrons in graphite. By the method of least squares, the temperature of the neutron gas was found, being equal to 354 ° K at a graphite temperature of 304 ° K.In conclusion we consider it our duty to express gratitude to A. K. Krasin and B. G. Dubovskii for interest and help in the work and F. L. shapiro for valuable interpretation of previous results.     

Fissile material detection by active neutron interrogation with radioactive neutron sources

Different radioactive neutron sources (Am-Li, Am-Be, Cf-252) were considered and tested for active fissile material detection. The low energy Am-Li neutron source has outstanding features. The low dose rate permits full access to the measuring site. The low energy (thermal) neutron flux at the source position is high compared to the high energy neutrons that reach the counter position. In a graphite matrix, of small size, 7 g U-235 led to a doubling of the neutron count rate whereas 200 g graphite changes this count rate by only 2%. The system is in addition operable in the presence of 10¹² Bq of fission products. The detection of fissile material down to 1 g and below has been shown to be possible with this instrument in small samples.     

Prospects of using different clad materials in a material test research reactor – Part 1 – The kinetic parameters

The kinetic parameters of a material test research reactor using stainless steel-316 and zircaloy-4 as clad were calculated. For this purpose, the aluminum clad of an MTR was replaced separately with stainless steel-316 and zircaloy-4. Calculations were carried out to find the core excess reactivity, neutron flux spectrum, prompt neutron generation time and effective delayed-neutron fraction. Nuclear reactor analysis codes including WIMS-D4 and CITATION were employed to carry out these calculations. It was observed that at the beginning of life, the excess reactivity was maximum at 0.054110 Δk/k when zircaloy-4 was used as clad while it was minimum at ?0.365650 Δk/k when stainless steel-316 was the clad as compared to 0.017945 Δk/k for aluminum. The thermal neutron flux at the mid of the central flux trap increased by 59.9% and 12.5% for stainless steel and zircaloy-4 clads, respectively, from the flux of the original aluminum clad. The prompt neutron generation time was maximum at 45.36 μs when stainless steel-316 was the clad while it was minimum at 44.03 μs for the original aluminum clad. The effective delayed-neutron fraction was maximum at 0.007185 for the original aluminum clad while it was minimum at 0.007078 for stainless steel clad.     

启明星1号装置中子通量能谱与中子平均能量计算

启明星1号装置是我国研究ADS次临界中子学的一个快热耦合系统。本文用离散坐标法的程序TWODANT对启明星1号装置能谱进行分析计算。计算结果表明，启明星1号装置具有比较硬的中子能谱，可用以进行有关ADS的研究。     

A Two-Dimensional Benchmark Experiment for Neutron Transport in Water

For the purpose of providing standard data for checking two-dimensional neutron penetration calculations, fast neutron spectra as well as thermal and epithermal neutron fluxes were measured over a two-dimensional (R, Z) space in water shield using an activation method. Threshold reaction rates were converted to fast neutron scalar flux spectra with the aid of the SAND-II code. These results agree within a factor of 2 with the calculations by a two-dimensional discrete ordinates code PALLAS-2D. Thermal and epithermal neutron fluxes obtained with the Westcott's method agree quite well with the calculated values by the PALLAS-2D code in which the diffusion equation was adopted for dealing with low energy neutrons to reduce the computing time. All experimental results are given in the absolute values.     

Recombination Effect as Component of Residual Defect in Silicon Surface Barrier Detector

The thermal conductivity of graphite components used as in-core components in high-temperature gascooled reactors (HTGRs) is reduced by neutron irradiation during reactor operation. The reduction in thermal conductivity is expected to be reversed by thermal annealing when the irradiated graphite component is heated above its original irradiation temperature. In this study, to develop an evaluation model for the thermal annealing effect on the thermal conductivity of IG-110 graphite for the HTGRs, the thermal annealing effect evaluated quantitatively at irradiation temperatures of up to 1,200°C and neutron fluences of up to 1.5 dpa. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of IG-110 graphite was calculated by using a modified thermal resistance model considering the thermal annealing effect. The following results were obtained. (1) The thermal annealing effect on the thermal conductivity of IG-110 graphite could be evaluated quantitatively and a thermal annealing model was developed based on the experimental results at irradiation temperatures of up to 1,200°C and neutron fluences of up to 1.5 dpa. (2) The thermal conductivities of IG-110 graphite calculated by using the modified thermal resistance model considering the thermal annealing effect showed good agreement with experimental measurements. This study has shown that it is possible to evaluate the annealed thermal conductivity of IG-110 graphite by using the modified thermal resistance model at irradiation temperatures of 550–1150°C and irradiation fluences of up to 1.5 dpa.     

Neutronics modeling of the High Flux Isotope Reactor using COMSOL

The High Flux Isotope Reactor located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a versatile 85 MWth research reactor with cold and thermal neutron scattering, materials irradiation, isotope production, and neutron activation analysis capabilities. HFIR staff members are currently in the process of updating the thermal hydraulic and reactor transient modeling methodologies. COMSOL Multiphysics has been adopted for the thermal hydraulic analyses and has proven to be a powerful finite-element-based simulation tool for solving multiple physics-based systems of partial and ordinary differential equations. Modeling reactor transients is a challenging task because of the coupling of neutronics, heat transfer, and hydrodynamics. This paper presents a preliminary COMSOL-based neutronics study performed by creating a two-dimensional, two-group, diffusion neutronics model of HFIR to study the spatially-dependent, beginning-of-cycle fast and thermal neutron fluxes. The 238-group ENDF/B-VII neutron cross section library and NEWT, a two-dimensional, discrete-ordinates neutron transport code within the SCALE 6 code package, were used to calculate the two-group neutron cross sections required to solve the diffusion equations. The two-group diffusion equations were implemented in the COMSOL coefficient form PDE application mode and were solved via eigenvalue analysis using a direct (PARDISO) linear system solver. A COMSOL-provided adaptive mesh refinement algorithm was used to increase the number of elements in areas of largest numerical error to increase the accuracy of the solution. The flux distributions calculated by means of COMSOL/SCALE compare well with those calculated with benchmarked three-dimensional MCNP and KENO models, a necessary first step along the path to implementing two- and three-dimensional models of HFIR in COMSOL for the purpose of studying the spatial dependence of transient-induced behavior in the reactor core.     

Neutron transmission through pyrolytic graphite crystals

Calculation of the total cross-section, neutron transmission and removal coefficient of pyrolytic graphite (PG) for thermal neutron energies were carried out using an additive formula. The formula takes into account the variation of thermal diffuse and Bragg scattering cross-sections in terms of PG temperature and mosaic spread for neutron energies in the range 1 meV to 1 eV. A computer code PG has been developed which allow calculations for the graphite in its hexagonal close-packed structure, when its c-direction is parallel with incident neutron beam (parallel orientation).     

Design of a permanent epithermal neutron irradiation site in the Syrian MNSR

A permanent epithermal neutron irradiation site was designed in the Syrian Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) by using cadmium as a thermal neutron shielding material. This site was designed by Cd-shielding the internal surface of the outer aluminum tube of the FOIS (First Outer Irradiation Site) in the MNSR. The MCNP-4C calculations showed that, to have a permanent epithermal neutron irradiation site for the ENAA using the cadmium, it is necessary to add the top beryllium shims of the reactor to compensate for the reactivity losses due to the neutrons absorption in the cylindrical cadmium shell. The activation detectors were used to measure the thermal and epithermal neutron fluxes in the FOIS. Distribution of the thermal neutron flux along the vertical direction of the outer irradiation capsule used in the FOIS has been found using MCNP-4C code, and experimentally by irradiating five copper wires. Good agreements were obtained between the calculated and the measured results.     

铝基碳化硼材料堆内辐照方案设计

铝基碳化硼是一种新型的乏燃料贮存格架用材料,为检验其辐照性能,需进行堆内辐照实验。本文从样品成分及形状、辐照罐结构、辐照位置等方面,对铝基碳化硼材料堆内辐照方案进行设计。经初步中子物理学和热工计算表明：在所选择的两个辐照孔道内进行辐照考验,试件所接受的累积γ射线照射剂量和相应的快中子积分注量均满足技术要求,且辐照罐样品入堆后对功率峰值因子、反应性、发热率等与堆运行安全相关因子的影响均在安全范围内。     

Neutronic and thermal hydraulic design of the graphite moderated helium-cooled high flux reactor

A new design concept for a high flux reactor was investigated, where a graphite moderated helium-cooled reactor with pebble fuel elements containing (²³⁵U, ²³⁸U)O₂ TRISO coated particles was taken as its design base. The reactor consists of an annular pebble bed core, a central heavy water region, and inner, outer, top, and bottom graphite reflectors. The maximum thermal neutron flux in its central heavy water region as high as 10¹⁵ cm⁻² s⁻¹ with thermal neutron spectral purity of more than two orders of magnitude and a large usable volume of more than 1,000 liters can be achieved by (1) diluting the fissile material in the core and (2) optimizing the core-reflector configuration. The in-core thermal-hydraulic analysis was done to obtain adequate information about the coolant flow pattern and pressure distribution, core temperature profile, as well as other safety aspects of the design. To protect the reactor during off-normal or accident events, a large margin of temperature difference between the operating fuel temperature and the fuel limit temperature is confirmed by lowering the coolant inlet and core rise temperatures.     

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。     

A study of transmutation of minor-actinide in a thermal neutron field of the advanced neutron source

Since Minor Actinides (MAs) have a large cross section in a thermal energy region, a thermal neutron field has possibility to provide high relative transmutation rate. The transmutation of MA in a thermal neutron field was investigated in this study, focusing on relative transmutation rate, transmutation rate of weight and neutron economy in a thermal neutron field in comparison with those in a fast neutron field. The followings are the major results: (1) a thermal neutron field, especially a well-thermalized neutron field, provides high relative transmutation rate of MA. (2) However, the transmutation rate of weight of MA is limited since the region with high flux is restricted even in the ANS. (3) The accumulation of ²⁴⁶Cm slows the relative transmutation rate of MA in a thermal neutron field. However, it can be compensated by providing a neutron field with high flux in keV region. (4) The neutron economy of the transmutation of MA is not so bad in a thermal neutron field, and is rather good when the neutron flux is high.