Reactivity perturbation assay of irradiated fuel rods (LWBR Development Program)

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7126813

Green, L; Kriese, J T; Natelson, M

The reactivity perturbation method has been investigated as a possible technique for the assay of spent fuel rods from a /sup 233/UO/sub 2/--ThO/sub 2/ fueled core. A hard interrogating spectrum was provided at the center of the ARMF-1 core by two B/sub 4/C filters of different thicknesses. Rods up to 267 centimeters long were pulled through the core at speeds up to 25 cm/min, and the time integrated reactivity worth was measured. The fuel response of both filters was found to be linear over a wide fuel density range, with good fuel sensitivity. Fission product sensitivities for the two filters, obtained both experientally and calculationally, were very low and in good agreement with one another. Single measurement uncertainity was 0.6 gram at the 25 cm/min pulling speed. Total estimated assay precision, including both systematic and random errors, for a hypothetical assay of 500 rods, was approximately 0.5%.

• Research Organization: Bettis Atomic Power Lab., West Mifflin, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-11-0014
• OSTI ID: 7126813
• Report Number(s): WAPD-TM-1259
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
ARMF-1 REACTOR
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FUEL ELEMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
PERFORMANCE
POOL TYPE REACTORS
REACTIVITY WORTHS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS