SOURCES OF NEUTRONICS DATA INVOLVING THORIUM AND 233U AND LIGHT WATER MODERATION

Technical Report · Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1072039· OSTI ID:1072039

Davenport, LE

A literature search has been conducted to locate sources of neutronics data for light water moderated systems which contain thorium and/or uranium- 233. It is concluded that insufficient data is currently available to validate neutronics design methods for licensing the {sup 233}UO{sub 2}-ThO{sub 2} fuel cycle in light water reactors . A summary of the neutronics data sources found is reported in this document. These sources include critical and exponential experiments with lattices of fuel rods containing {sup 233}U + Th or {sup 235}U + Th. A few experiments using homogeneous aqueous solutions of {sup 233}UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3){sub 2} or {sup 233}UO{sub 2}F{sub 2} are also included. The only critical lattice data using both {sup 233}U + Th came from the LWBR program. All these experiments were zoned radially and in most cases axially also. Geometrically clean lattice critical data were measured for the CETR and TUPE programs. Both series used {sup 235}UO{sub 2}-ThO(sub 2} pellets. A series of 21 exponential experiments using 3% {sup 233}UO{sub 2} - 97% ThO{sub 2} fuel vibratory compacted to 92% of theoretical density in Zircaloy-2 tubing was performed at BNL using both unpoisoned and boric acid poisoned H{sub 2}O moderator. For completeness, homogeneous systems are listed in which basic neutronics data have been measured. However, it is expected that most data concerning homogeneous systems will be applied to criticality safety problems rather than neutronics methods validation.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-1830
• OSTI ID: 1072039
• Report Number(s): PNL-2917
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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