Analysis of the Reactor Physics of Low-Enrichment Fuel for the INL Advanced Test Reactor in Support of RERTR.

Analysis of the Reactor Physics of Low-Enrichment Fuel for the INL Advanced Test Reactor in Support of RERTR. PDF Author:
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Analysis of the performance of the ATR with a LEU fuel design shows promise in terms of a core design that will yield the same neutron sources in target locations. A proposed integral cladding burnable absorber design appears to meet power profile requirements that will satisfy power distributions for safety limits. Performance of this fuel design is ongoing; the current work is the initial evaluation of the core performance of this fuel design with increasing burnup. Results show that LEU fuel may have a longer lifetime that HEU fuel however, such limits may be set by mechanical performance of the fuel rather that available reactivity. Changes seen in the radial fuel power distribution with burnup in LEU fuel will require further study to ascertain the impact on neutron fluxes in target locations. Source terms for discharged fuel have also been studied. By its very nature, LEU fuel produces much more plutonium than is present in HEU fuel at discharge. However, the effect of the plutonium inventory appears to have little affect on radiotoxicity or decay heat in the fuel.

Analysis of the Reactor Physics of Low-Enrichment Fuel for the INL Advanced Test Reactor in Support of RERTR.

Analysis of the Reactor Physics of Low-Enrichment Fuel for the INL Advanced Test Reactor in Support of RERTR. PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Analysis of the performance of the ATR with a LEU fuel design shows promise in terms of a core design that will yield the same neutron sources in target locations. A proposed integral cladding burnable absorber design appears to meet power profile requirements that will satisfy power distributions for safety limits. Performance of this fuel design is ongoing; the current work is the initial evaluation of the core performance of this fuel design with increasing burnup. Results show that LEU fuel may have a longer lifetime that HEU fuel however, such limits may be set by mechanical performance of the fuel rather that available reactivity. Changes seen in the radial fuel power distribution with burnup in LEU fuel will require further study to ascertain the impact on neutron fluxes in target locations. Source terms for discharged fuel have also been studied. By its very nature, LEU fuel produces much more plutonium than is present in HEU fuel at discharge. However, the effect of the plutonium inventory appears to have little affect on radiotoxicity or decay heat in the fuel.

Evaluation of Core Physics Analysis Methods for Conversion of the Inl Advanced Test Reactor to Low-Enrichment Fuel

Evaluation of Core Physics Analysis Methods for Conversion of the Inl Advanced Test Reactor to Low-Enrichment Fuel PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Computational neutronics studies to support the possible conversion of the ATR to LEU are underway. Simultaneously, INL is engaged in a physics methods upgrade project to put into place modern computational neutronics tools for future support of ATR fuel cycle and experiment analysis. A number of experimental measurements have been performed in the ATRC in support of the methods upgrade project, and are being used to validate the new core physics methods. The current computational neutronics work is focused on performance of scoping calculations for the ATR core loaded with a candidate LEU fuel design. This will serve as independent confirmation of analyses that have been performed previously, and will evaluate some of the new computational methods for analysis of a candidate LEU fuel for ATR.

Reactor Physics Methods and Preconceptual Core Design Analyses for Conversion of the Advanced Test Reactor to Low-Enriched Uranium Fuel Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2012

Reactor Physics Methods and Preconceptual Core Design Analyses for Conversion of the Advanced Test Reactor to Low-Enriched Uranium Fuel Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2012 PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Under the current long-term DOE policy and planning scenario, both the ATR and the ATRC will be reconfigured at an appropriate time within the next several years to operate with low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. This will be accomplished under the auspices of the Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactor (RERTR) Program, administered by the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). At a minimum, the internal design and composition of the fuel element plates and support structure will change, to accommodate the need for low enrichment in a manner that maintains total core excess reactivity at a suitable level for anticipated operational needs throughout each cycle while respecting all control and shutdown margin requirements and power distribution limits. The complete engineering design and optimization of LEU cores for the ATR and the ATRC will require significant multi-year efforts in the areas of fuel design, development and testing, as well as a complete re-analysis of the relevant reactor physics parameters for a core composed of LEU fuel, with possible control system modifications. Ultimately, revalidation of the computational physics parameters per applicable national and international standards against data from experimental measurements for prototypes of the new ATR and ATRC core designs will also be required for Safety Analysis Report (SAR) changes to support routine operations with LEU. This report is focused on reactor physics analyses conducted during Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 to support the initial development of several potential preconceptual fuel element designs that are suitable candidates for further study and refinement during FY-2013 and beyond. In a separate, but related, effort in the general area of computational support for ATR operations, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is conducting a focused multiyear effort to introduce modern high-fidelity computational reactor physics software and associated validation protocols to replace several obsolete components of the current analytical tool set used for ATR neutronics support. This aggressive computational and experimental campaign will have a broad strategic impact on the operation of the ATR, both in terms of improved computational efficiency and accuracy for support of ongoing DOE programs as well as in terms of national and international recognition of the ATR National Scientific User Facility (NSUF). It will also greatly facilitate the LEU conversion effort, since the upgraded computational capabilities are now at a stage where they can be, and in fact have been, used for the required physics analysis from the beginning. In this context, extensive scoping neutronics analyses were completed for six preconceptual candidate LEU fuel element designs for the ATR (and for its companion critical facility, ATRC). Of these, four exhibited neutronics performance in what is believed to be an acceptable range. However, there are currently some concerns with regard to fabricability and mechanical performance that have emerged for one of the four latter concepts. Thus three concepts have been selected for more comprehensive conceptual design analysis during the upcoming fiscal year.

Results of the Irradiation of R6R018 in the Advanced Test Reactor

Results of the Irradiation of R6R018 in the Advanced Test Reactor PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
For over 30 years the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) program has worked to provide the fuel technology and analytical support required to convert research and test reactors from nuclear fuels that utilize highly enriched uranium (HEU) to fuels based on low-enriched uranium (LEU) (defined as

Reactor Physics Results from Low-power Measurements in the Advanced Test Reactor

Reactor Physics Results from Low-power Measurements in the Advanced Test Reactor PDF Author: N. C. Kaufman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nuclear reactors
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Book Description


Reactor Physics Studies for the Final Conceptual Design of the Advanced Test Reactor

Reactor Physics Studies for the Final Conceptual Design of the Advanced Test Reactor PDF Author: R. S. Marsden
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Engineering test reactors
Languages : en
Pages : 198

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Book Description


Progress in Reactor Physics

Progress in Reactor Physics PDF Author: Virgil W. Lower
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nuclear reactors
Languages : en
Pages : 170

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Book Description


Medical Isotope Production Without Highly Enriched Uranium

Medical Isotope Production Without Highly Enriched Uranium PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309130395
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
This book is the product of a congressionally mandated study to examine the feasibility of eliminating the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU2) in reactor fuel, reactor targets, and medical isotope production facilities. The book focuses primarily on the use of HEU for the production of the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), whose decay product, technetium-99m3 (Tc-99m), is used in the majority of medical diagnostic imaging procedures in the United States, and secondarily on the use of HEU for research and test reactor fuel. The supply of Mo-99 in the U.S. is likely to be unreliable until newer production sources come online. The reliability of the current supply system is an important medical isotope concern; this book concludes that achieving a cost difference of less than 10 percent in facilities that will need to convert from HEU- to LEU-based Mo-99 production is much less important than is reliability of supply.

Reactor Physics Calculations For Applications In Nuclear Technology - Proceedings Of The Workshop

Reactor Physics Calculations For Applications In Nuclear Technology - Proceedings Of The Workshop PDF Author: Dermott E Cullen
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814632449
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 757

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Book Description
This workshop was designed to meet the needs of those currently involved in or are planning a nuclear programme involving research and/or power fission reactors. The workshop had a broad scope including not only fission reactor core calculations, but also safety, fuel management, waste disposal reactor licensing. The lectures and computer exercises covered almost all aspects of the operation of fission reactors.This workshop introduced participants to the methods currently used in fission reactor calculations and to some computer codes in which these methods are used.

Applications of Research Reactors

Applications of Research Reactors PDF Author: International Atomic Energy Agency
Publisher: International Atomic Energy Agency
ISBN: 9789201450104
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description
This publication is a comprehensive study that reviews the current situation in a great number of applications of research reactors. It revises the contents of IAEA TECDOC-1234, The Applications of Research Reactors, giving detailed updates on each field of research reactor uses worldwide. Reactors of all sizes and capabilities can benefit from the sharing of current practices and research enabled via this updated version, which describes the requirements for practicing methods as diverse as neutron activation analysis, education and training, neutron scattering and neutron imaging, silicon doping and radioisotope production, material/fuel irradiation and testing, and some others. Many underutilised research reactors can learn how to diversify their technical capabilities, staff and potential commercial partners and users seeking research reactor services and products. The content of the publication has also been strengthened in terms of current issues facing the vast majority of research reactors by including sections describing user and customer relations as well as strategic planning considerations.