Neutron noise transmission characteristics of multiplying media and neutron noise source localization in liquid-metal fast breeder reactors by using the neutron wave propagation technique

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6476144

John, T M; Singh, O P

The results of a theoretical study of noise transmission characteristics of multiplying media and neutron noise source localization in liquid-metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBRs) by using the neutron wave propagation technique is reported. The study was carried out using one-group as well as multigroup diffusion theory. Both theories show that the noise transmission characteristics are quite sensitive to the multiplication factor k of the medium. For k very close to unity, the response of the out-of-core detectors is found to be the same irrespective of the location of the neutron noise source in the multiplying medium. However, for a highly subcritical reactor, the response of the out-of-core detectors is sensitive to the location of the neutron noise source, and from the point of view of the noise transmission characteristics, the medium behaves like a nonmultiplying medium. The analytical results of one-group theory that are fully supported by the multigroup multiregion theory clearly indicate that the neutron noise signal at detector locations can be assumed to be made up of two components--the first (local) is insensitive to the multiplication factor, and the second (global) is very sensitive to the multiplication factor of the system. If the local component can be separated from the total out-of-core detector signal, then a proper calibration of the local component with respect to the various locations of neutron noise source may help in finding the location of the neutron noise source in LMFBR cores.

• Research Organization: Reactor Research Centre, 313, GSB, Kalpakkam Tamil Nadu
• OSTI ID: 6476144
• Journal Information: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 85:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
NEUTRON TRANSPORT
REACTOR NOISE
NEUTRONS
ATTENUATION
CALIBRATION
CROSS SECTIONS
DIFFUSION
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
REACTOR CORES
SIGNALS
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION
BARYONS
BREEDER REACTORS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
NEUTRAL-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
NUCLEONS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
210500* - Power Reactors
Breeding