[KSCI] Korea Science Citation Index Service

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2018.09.025

Computational design and characterization of a subcritical reactor assembly with TRIGA fuel

Asuncion-Astronomo, Alvie (Philippine Nuclear Research Institute)
Stancar, Ziga (Jozef Stefan Institute)
Goricanec, Tanja (Jozef Stefan Institute)
Snoj, Luka (Jozef Stefan Institute)

Publication Information

Nuclear Engineering and Technology / v.51, no.2, 2019 , pp. 337-344 More about this Journal

Abstract

The TRIGA fuel of the Philippine Research Reactor-1 (PRR-1) will be used in a subcritical reactor assembly (SRA) to strengthen and advance nuclear science and engineering expertise in the Philippines. SRA offers a versatile and safe training and research facility since it can produce neutrons through nuclear fission reaction without achieving criticality. In this work, we used a geometrically detailed model of the PRR-1 TRIGA fuel to design a subcritical reactor assembly and calculate physical parameters of different fuel configurations. Based on extensive neutron transport simulations an SRA configuration is proposed, comprising 44 TRIGA fuel rods arranged in a $7{\times}7$ square lattice. This configuration is found to have a maximum $k_{eff}$ value of $0.95001{\pm}0.00009$ at 4 cm pitch. The SRA is characterized by calculating the 3-dimensional neutron flux distribution and neutron spectrum. The effective delayed neutron fraction and mean neutron generation time of the system are calculated to be $748pcm{\pm}7pcm$ and $41{\mu}s$ , respectively. Results obtained from this work will be the basis of the core design for the subcritical reactor facility that will be established in the Philippines.

Keywords

Nuclear reactor; Subcritical assembly; TRIGA fuel; MCNP;

Citations & Related Records

Times Cited By KSCI : 1 (Citation Analysis)

Reference
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