Measured natural neutron source in /sup 233/UO/sub 2/--ZrO/sub 2/ and /sup 233/UO/sub 2/--ThO/sub 2/ (LWBR Development Program)

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1967

OSTI ID:6742240

Emert, C J; Milani, S

Reactor cores containing /sup 233/U and oxygen intimately bound in a fuel matrix are capable of generating an appreciable source of neutrons from the /sup 18/O(..cap alpha..,n)/sup 21/Ne reaction. Most of the alpha particles for this reaction originate from the radioactive decay of /sup 233/U. Because of the relatively short half-life of /sup 233/U, the neutron source is large compared to that from fuels containing /sup 235/U and /sup 238/U. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this reaction in producing neutrons and to give some degree of confidence in the calculation of such a source, two experiments were undertaken. The first experiment involved a direct measurement of the neutron emission from 26 w/o /sup 233/U O/sub 2/-ZrO/sub 2/ seed rods and from 1 w/o /sup 233/U O/sub 2/-ThO/sub 2/ blanket rods when immersed in a manganese sulfate bath. The second experiment measured the natural source from a small seed and blanket reactor using an experimental technique developed by Milani and Doub. A calculation was also undertaken using the cross-section data of Bonner to evaluate the natural source. The natural source from /sup 233/U fuel rods as measured with the manganese sulfate bath, inferred from the seed-blanket core, and as calculated is in nominal agreement. (NSA 21: 27506)

• Research Organization: Bettis Atomic Power Lab., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-14
• OSTI ID: 6742240
• Report Number(s): WAPD-TM-601
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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