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Progress in xenon stability analysis for a flux-flattened reactor

Conference · · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5626525
A power oscillation induced by a xenon transient is common to all large thermal reactors. The Hanford N Reactor, operated by UNC Nuclear Industries for the US Dept. of Energy, is a large graphite-moderated horizontal pressure tube reactor whose dimensions are approx. 10 x 10 x 12 m. To preclude xenon instability, the N Reactor was designed to have a large negative power coefficient of reactivity. Previous analyses and observations made over 23 yr of operation have confirmed that the reactor is in fact very stable. Currently an effort is under way to introduce axial flux-flattening to improve the operating and long-term safety margins. Safety evaluations associated with the flux-flattening program require a complete review of the xenon stability question. To achieve the level of accuracy necessary to make an unambiguous analysis of the xenon stability characteristics in the flux-flattened mode, it is necessary to employ sophisticated methods. To this end, it was decided to write a three-dimensional nodal code and to couple xenon and temperature feedbacks to this code. This paper summarizes the progress made in developing such a code for xenon stability analysis related to the N Reactor.
OSTI ID:
5626525
Report Number(s):
CONF-870601-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 54
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English