| Abstract: | The Doppler reactivity effect of 238U was measured in simulated MOX fuel using the FCA facility for the purpose of obtaining data on the 238U Doppler reactivity effect in light-water-moderated MOX fuel and evaluating the prediction accuracy of the current analysis code systems and nuclear data library. Experimental data on the Doppler reactivity effect from room temperature up to 800°C were obtained for a uranium fueled core and mockup cores for MOX-fueled LWR using cylindrical natural-uranium samples. With the use of various samples with various neutron spectra, 238U Doppler reactivity effects at energies generally in the low range below 1 keV were evaluated. Analyses were performed using the current standard analysis code systems for fast and thermal reactors, with the JENDL-3.3 data library. Both analyses yielded calculated/experimental value (C/E) ratios of 0.96 to 1.06 for the MOX cores, a good agreement within the experimental error, and those in the uranium core were similar. |
