Fast-neutron hodoscope at TREAT: methods for quantiative determination of fuel dispersal
For fuel-motion surveillance in Transient Reactor Test Facility experiments, the fast-neutron hodoscope has advanced beyond its initial ability to provide time, location, and velocity data: its quantitative mass results are now routinely used in liquidmetal fast breeder reactor accident projections. (Mass normalization is based on initial fuel inventory.) The material and radiation surroundings of the test section affect hodoscope detectors in intrinsic and instrumental ways that necessitate detailed corrections. Depending on the experiment, count rate compensation with as little as 5% total imprecision is usually desired for dead time, power-level changes, nonlinear response, efficiency, and background. In addition, systematic effects ranging up to 20% may occur, from such causes as self-shielding, self-multiplication, self-attenuation, and flux depression. For one- to seven-pin bundles, the hodoscope has achieved 1-ms time resolution, 0.25-mm lateral- and 5-mm axial-motion displacement detection, and 50mg single-pin, 350-mg seven-pin mass resolution-not all, however, simultaneously, since resolution and statistical precision are inversely related. The experimental and theoretical foundation for that performance is now well established.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory Reactor Analysis and Safety Division, Argonne, Illinois 60439
- OSTI ID:
- 6922348
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 56
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
TREAT REACTOR
FUEL ELEMENT CLUSTERS
FUEL MOTION DETECTION
HODOSCOPES
BACKGROUND NOISE
CORRECTIONS
COUNTING RATES
DEAD TIME
EFFICIENCY
FAST NEUTRONS
FUEL PINS
MASS RESOLUTION
MULTIPLICATION FACTORS
PERFORMANCE
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SELF-SHIELDING
SPATIAL RESOLUTION
TIME RESOLUTION
AIR COOLED REACTORS
BARYONS
DETECTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FERMIONS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUNCTIONS
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HADRONS
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
NEUTRONS
NOISE
NUCLEONS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESOLUTION
SHIELDING
SOLID HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
TEST REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
TIMING PROPERTIES
220600* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors