High Conduction Neutron Absorber to Simulate Fast Reactor Environment in an Existing Test Reactor
A need was determined for a thermal neutron absorbing material that could be cooled in a gas reactor environment without using large amounts of a coolant that would thermalize the neutron flux. A new neutron absorbing material was developed that provided high conduction so a small amount of water would be sufficient for cooling thereby thermalizing the flux as little as possible. An irradiation experiment was performed to assess the effects of radiation and the performance of a new neutron absorbing material. Neutron fluence monitors were placed inside specially fabricated holders within a set of drop-in capsules and irradiated for up to four cycles in the Advanced Test Reactor. Following irradiation, the neutron fluence monitor wires were analyzed by gamma and x-ray spectrometry to determine the activities of the activation products. The adjusted neutron fluences were calculated and grouped into three bins – thermal, epithermal and fast to evaluate the spectral shift created by the new material. Fluence monitors were evaluated after four different irradiation periods to evaluate the effects of burn-up in the absorbing material. Additionally, activities of the three highest activity isotopes present in the specimens are given.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1244824
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-101113; 830403000
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 302, Issue 1; ISSN 0236-5731
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Production of Molybdenum-99 using Neutron Capture Methods
Assembly and Delivery of Capsules for Irradiation of Absorber Material Specimens in the High Flux Isotope Reactor