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U.S. Department of Energy
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Biases for current FFTF calculational methods

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6803340

Uncertainties in nuclear data and approximate calculational methods used in safety design, and operational support of a reactor yield biased as well as uncertain results. Experimentally based biases for use in Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) core calculations have been evaluated and are presented together with a description of calculational methods. Experimental data for these evaluations were obtained from an Engineering Mockup Critical (EMC) of the FFTF core built at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The experiments were conceived and planned by the Hanford Engineering Development Laboratory (HEDL) in cooperation with the Westinghouse Advanced Reactors Division (WARD) and ANL personnel, and carried out by the ANL staff. All experiments were designed specifically to provide data for evaluation of current FFTF core calculational methods. These comprehensive experiments were designed to allow simultaneous evaluations of biases and uncertainties in calculated reactivities, fuel sub-assembly and material reactivity worths, small sample worths, absorber rod worths, spatial fission rate distributions, power tilting effects and spatial neutron spectra. Modified source multiplication and reactivity anomaly methods have also been evaluated. Uncertainties in the biases have been established and are sufficiently small to attain a high degree of confidence in the design, safety and operational aspects of the FFTF core.

Research Organization:
Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, Wash. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-14-2170
OSTI ID:
6803340
Report Number(s):
HEDL-SA-1393; CONF-780401-9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English