2014 CALIBAN and PROSPERO experiments for the criticality accident dosimetry intercomparison - 14529

Conference · Tue Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2015

OSTI ID:23100928

Trompier, F.; Chevallier, M. -A.; Duluc, M. ^[1]; Heinrichs, D.; Hickman, D.; Hudson, B.; Lobaugh, M.; Merritt, M.; Wong, C.; Wysong, A. ^[2]; Buchanan, L.; Waterfall, A.; Wilson, C. ^[3]

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1. Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire - IRSN, BP 17, 92262 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex (France)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - LLNL, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)
3. Atomic Weapon Establishment - AWE, Aldermaston, Reading, RG7 4PR (United Kingdom)

Nuclear criticality accident dosimetry is very specific, due to the mixed fields and to energy and dose ranges which could be out of the range of classical individual dosimetry. The maximal neutron and gamma dose must be determined as well as other information such as the orientation of the victim in the radiation field. It is exceptionally challenging to establish doses in the event of partial body exposures. Therefore, frequent exercises are organized to maintain competencies and to train staff to perform such dosimetry. Experiments using the CALIBAN and PROSPERO reactors were performed in June and September 2014 in order to test various criticality accident dosimeters (CAD). These two metallic reactors are located at the CEA research center at Valduc (Cote-d'Or, France). They are composed of a metallic alloy of uranium with a high enrichment in the isotope {sup 235}U. These reactors are used for the production of mixed radiation fields primarily comprised of fission neutrons and gammas. CADs from three different laboratories (AWE, UK; IRSN, FR; LLNL, USA) were irradiated on water phantoms with three different orientations (0 deg. and 45 deg., front and rear faces) and free in air at both CALIBAN and PROSPERO reactors, in pulse and steady state modes. This paper will present the comparison of some results. These experiments will be useful preparation for other exercises planned in 2016 at the GODIVA-IV and FLATTOP reactors located at the Nevada National Security Site, USA. (authors)

• Research Organization: American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 23100928
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
DOSEMETERS
EFFICIENCY
FISSION NEUTRONS
FLATTOP REACTOR
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
PHANTOMS
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
URANIUM 235