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Experimental power normalization factors for Battelle plutonium recycle measurements

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7246885

A new experiment has been performed in the PRCF to determine the Power-Fission Product Internormalization Factors for UO/sub 2/-2.35% /sup 235/U, UO/sub 2/-0.9 wt% PuO/sub 2/ (8% /sup 240/Pu), UO/sub 2/-2 wt% PuO2 (8% /sup 240/Pu), UO/sub 2/-2 wt% PuO2 (24% 240Pu), and UO/sub 2/-4 wt% PuO/sub x/ (18% /sup 240/Pu) fuel rods. These Power-Fission Product Internormalization Factors, (K sub ij), relate the measured fission product activity ratio for 2 different fuel types to the ratio of power produced by the same 2 fuel rods. Two measurements were made, with different thermal neutron spectra incident on the fuel rods. All 5 fuel types were compared simultaneously in each measurement. No significant differences were observed between the 2 measurements due to the difference in incident neutron spectrum. The values of the internormalization factors were determined with a precision of about plus or minus 1/2% from heatup from measurements and with a precision of about plus or minus 5% from Lanthanum-140 measurements. The new results show that the original factors were in error by as much as 8% in relating the UO/sub 2/-2.35% /sup 235/U rods to the Mixed-Oxide rods. (GRA)

Research Organization:
Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA)
OSTI ID:
7246885
Report Number(s):
PB-246268
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English