Postanalysis of the CNPS (Compact Nuclear Power Source) Critical Experiment

Conference · Sun Sep 18 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6845835

Palmer, R. G. ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

The Compact Nuclear Power Source (CNPS) was designed to produce electric power for remote sites where fuel logistics and costs would justify a remotely sited nuclear power plant. Since the reactor was of novel design with no appropriate benchmarks, a series of critical experiments was carried out at LANL. This paper describes the methodology and reports the results of the postanalysis that was performed on the critical experiments, which included several distinct critical configurations, the measurement of the isothermal temperature coefficient of reactivity and various material worths. Comparisons with measurements indicate that current methods and cross sections are adequate for calculating at least the beginning of life conditions in low enriched ²³⁵U-graphite cores.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6845835
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--88-2258; CONF-880911-11; ON: DE88014322
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
BENCHMARKS
CALCULATION METHODS
CARBON
Critical Experiments
DESIGN
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL RODS
GRAPHITE
MINERALS
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PORTABLE SOURCES
POWER PLANTS
Postanalysis
RADIATION SOURCES
REACTIVITY COEFFICIENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS