Hafnium as a neutron absorber in research reactors

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:411786

Jatuff, F E; Villarino, E A ^[1]

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1. INVAP S.E., S.C. de Bariloche (Argentina)

Research reactors usually require the periodic replacement of control rods because of the burnup of the neutron absorber material, even if devices have been mainly withdrawn. The purpose of this paper is the study of the reactivity worth of hafnium as a neutron absorber in the multi-purpose-type research reactor (MPTRR). The MPTRR design develops 20 MW, and it is configured by five rows of six low-enriched uranium (200% enrichment) materials test reactor fuels inside a Zircaloy chimney. The standard control plates are given by two rows of three plates of silver-indium-cadmium alloy (85% silver, 10% indium, and 5% cadmium, in weight percents; 0.26 cm of maximum absorber width), separating the central three rows of fuel elements from the peripheral first and fifth rows. The burnup of control plates decreases the reactivity worth below the licensing criteria in {approximately}6 months.

• OSTI ID: 411786
• Report Number(s): CONF-951006--
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 73; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
BURNUP
CADMIUM
FUEL ELEMENTS
HAFNIUM
NEUTRON ABSORBERS
REACTIVITY WORTHS
RESEARCH REACTORS