New investigations of the Phenix negative reactivity events
- CEA Nuclear Energy Div. DEN, CEA-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
In 1989 and 1990, four very fast and high amplitude decreases of the measured neutron flux, known as 'AURN' events, occurred in the Phenix fast neutron reactor and were not well explained despite a significant investigation program carried out in the 90 s. The perspective of the Phenix end of life led the French Nuclear Energy Div. to reinitiate AURN studies in particular with dedicated Phenix tests. It comes out from simulations with improved fluid-structure interaction model of the core movement that an outward movement of the sub-assemblies can generate a power variation consistent with the AURN signals. 'AURN' Phenix tests confirm the abnormal thermal behavior of an experimental sub-assembly, a new A URN scenario has been proposed on this basis. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- American Nuclear Society, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 22105996
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ICAPP '12: 2012 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, Chicago, IL (United States), 24-28 Jun 2012; Other Information: Country of input: France; 4 refs.; Related Information: In: Proceedings of the 2012 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants - ICAPP '12| 2799 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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