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Title: Benchmarking Criticality Safety Calculations with Subcritical Experiments

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:6648364
 [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Calculation of the neutron multiplication factor at delayed criticality may be necessary for benchmarking calculations but it may not be sufficient. The use of subcritical experiments to benchmark criticality safety calculations could result in substantial savings in fuel material costs for experiments. In some cases, subcritical configurations could be used to benchmark calculations where sufficient fuel to achieve delayed criticality is not available. By performing a variety of measurements with subcritical configurations, much detailed information can be obtained which can be compared directly with calculations. This paper discusses several measurements that can be performed with subcritical assemblies and presents examples that include comparisons between calculation and experiment where possible. Where not, examples from critical experiments have been used but the measurement methods could also be used for subcritical experiments.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OSTI ID:
6648364
Report Number(s):
CONF-840614-; CODEN: TANSA
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 46; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society, New Orleans, LA (United States), 3 Jun 1984; ISSN 0003-018X
Publisher:
American Nuclear Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English