Uranium booster rod experiments in ZED-2. Part I. Neutron spectrum parameter measurements.

Technical Report · Wed Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1972

OSTI ID:4525435

French, P M

Neutron spectrum parameter measurements were performed in the ZED-2 critical facility with four types of {sup 235}U boosters. One type was nominally 20% enriched {sup 235}U, 4.74 g {sup 235}U/cm length; the other three were 93% enriched with {sup 235}U loadings of 2.21 g/cm, 3.49 g/cm, and 4.88 g/cm. The boosters were located interstitially, parallel to reference fuel assemblies. In some experiments, three boosters were inserted in three symmetric configurations that varied the flux coupling between boosters. Measurements were also made with one or three booster assemblies perpendicular to the reference fuel assemblies. Relative gold-copper, lutetium-copper, or indium-manganese, lutetium-manganese activity ratios were determined in the perturbed regions of the core and interpreted in terms of the Westcott spectral parameters. The results indicate that spectral perturbations are large near the boosters, but do not extend much more than two or three slowing down lengths from the booster sites.

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario (Canada). Chalk River Nuclear Labs.
• NSA Number: NSA-27-027078
• OSTI ID: 4525435
• Report Number(s): AECL--4260
• Country of Publication: Canada
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DISTURBANCES
ENRICHED URANIUM
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REACTORS
RESEARCH/neutron spectra parameters in ZED- 2
effect of enriched booster fuel rods on
ZED-2 REACTOR