Design of Temperature Dependent Critical Experiments with SPRF/CX

Conference · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2021 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.13182/T125-36886· OSTI ID:1842622

Clarity, Justin B. ^[1]; Gallagher, Ryan C. ^[1]; Dupont, Mathieu N. ^[1]; Chapman, Christopher W. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

This paper describes the investigation of temperature-dependent critical experiments using the Seven Percent Critical Experiments (7uPCX) and Burnup Credit Critical Experiments (BUCCX) fuel types within the Sandia Pulsed Reactor Facility/Critical Experiments (SPRF/CX) apparatus at Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia). The goal of these experiments is to test the effect of varying system temperature on the $$\kappa$$_eff bias of water-moderated systems. Temperatures of 5–95°C were considered in this work. Eighteen representative lattice configurations were analyzed that had variations in the number of fuel rods and water holes, as well as in the array configuration, to achieve a variety of moderation regimes. The configurations were based on those detailed in the LEU-COMP-THERM-078 and LEU- COMP-THERM-079 experiments, both of which were published in the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (ICSBEP Handbook).

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1842622
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Journal Issue: 1 Journal Volume: 125
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
Burnup Credit Critical Experiments (BUCCX)
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Seven Percent Critical Experiments (7uPCX)
integral experiments