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High-/sup 240/Pu fuel worth in the Fast Test Reactor Engineering Mockup

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7348293· OSTI ID:7348293

Reactivity effects associated with the replacement of low-/sup 240/Pu fuel with high-/sup 240/Pu fuel were calculated and compared to measurements made in the FTR Engineering Mockup Critical (EMC). When the Pu and U isotopic compositions were changed in a way that increased the amounts of /sup 240/Pu and /sup 241/Pu and reduced the amounts of /sup 239/Pu and /sup 238/U while conserving total fissile mass and total fertile mass, the reactivity effect was positive. Calculation-to-experiment bias factors were obtained for this type of change and for the replacement of Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ with U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ in subassembly-size zones of the EMC. The k/sub e/--k/sub c/ bias decreased when high-/sup 240/Pu fuel was introduced and increased when Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ was replaced with U/sub 3/O/sub 8/. When the two changes were combined, their effects on the k/sub e/ --k/sub c/ bias tended to cancel out. The work described is related to plans for the utilization of light water reactor discharge Pu in the FTR.

Research Organization:
Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, Wash. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
E(45-1)-2170
OSTI ID:
7348293
Report Number(s):
HEDL-TME-76-31
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English