Subcritical measurements of the WINCO slab tank experiment using the source-jerk technique

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5580353

Spriggs, G D; Hansen, G E; Martin, E R; Plassmann, E A; Pederson, R A; Schlesser, J A; Krawczyk, T L; Tanner, J E; Smolen, G R ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)

Subcritical measurements of the WINCO slab tank using the source-jerk technique are presented. This technique determines subcriticality by analyzing the transient response produced by the sudden removal of an extraneous neutron source (i.e., a source jerk). We have found that the technique can provide an accurate means of measuring k in configurations that are close to critical (i.e., 0.90 < k < 1.0). As the system becomes more subcritical (i.e., k < 0.90), spatial effects introduce significant biases depending on the source and detector positions. A comparison between the measurements and Monte Carlo code calculations is also presented. 15 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5580353
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-89-2418; CONF-891103--22; ON: DE89015256
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
220900 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
CRITICALITY
KINETICS
MEASURING METHODS
NEUTRON DENSITY
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON SOURCES
PARTICLE SOURCES
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATION SOURCES
REACTIVITY
REACTOR KINETICS
REACTOR MONITORING SYSTEMS
REACTOR SAFETY
SAFETY