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Title: High Conduction Neutron Absorber to Simulate Fast Reactor Environment in an Existing Test Reactor

Abstract

A need was determined for a thermal neutron absorbing material that could be cooled in a gas reactor environment without using large amounts of a coolant that would thermalize the neutron flux. A new neutron absorbing material was developed that provided high conduction so a small amount of water would be sufficient for cooling thereby thermalizing the flux as little as possible. An irradiation experiment was performed to assess the effects of radiation and the performance of a new neutron absorbing material. Neutron fluence monitors were placed inside specially fabricated holders within a set of drop-in capsules and irradiated for up to four cycles in the Advanced Test Reactor. Following irradiation, the neutron fluence monitor wires were analyzed by gamma and x-ray spectrometry to determine the activities of the activation products. The adjusted neutron fluences were calculated and grouped into three bins – thermal, epithermal and fast to evaluate the spectral shift created by the new material. Fluence monitors were evaluated after four different irradiation periods to evaluate the effects of burn-up in the absorbing material. Additionally, activities of the three highest activity isotopes present in the specimens are given.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1244824
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-101113
Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731; 830403000
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 302; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731
Publisher:
Springer
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
Reactor dosimetry, advanced test reactor, Al3Hf shielding

Citation Formats

Guillen, Donna, Greenwood, Lawrence R., and Parry, James. High Conduction Neutron Absorber to Simulate Fast Reactor Environment in an Existing Test Reactor. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1007/s10967-014-3251-6.
Guillen, Donna, Greenwood, Lawrence R., & Parry, James. High Conduction Neutron Absorber to Simulate Fast Reactor Environment in an Existing Test Reactor. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3251-6
Guillen, Donna, Greenwood, Lawrence R., and Parry, James. 2014. "High Conduction Neutron Absorber to Simulate Fast Reactor Environment in an Existing Test Reactor". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3251-6.
@article{osti_1244824,
title = {High Conduction Neutron Absorber to Simulate Fast Reactor Environment in an Existing Test Reactor},
author = {Guillen, Donna and Greenwood, Lawrence R. and Parry, James},
abstractNote = {A need was determined for a thermal neutron absorbing material that could be cooled in a gas reactor environment without using large amounts of a coolant that would thermalize the neutron flux. A new neutron absorbing material was developed that provided high conduction so a small amount of water would be sufficient for cooling thereby thermalizing the flux as little as possible. An irradiation experiment was performed to assess the effects of radiation and the performance of a new neutron absorbing material. Neutron fluence monitors were placed inside specially fabricated holders within a set of drop-in capsules and irradiated for up to four cycles in the Advanced Test Reactor. Following irradiation, the neutron fluence monitor wires were analyzed by gamma and x-ray spectrometry to determine the activities of the activation products. The adjusted neutron fluences were calculated and grouped into three bins – thermal, epithermal and fast to evaluate the spectral shift created by the new material. Fluence monitors were evaluated after four different irradiation periods to evaluate the effects of burn-up in the absorbing material. Additionally, activities of the three highest activity isotopes present in the specimens are given.},
doi = {10.1007/s10967-014-3251-6},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1244824}, journal = {Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry},
issn = {0236-5731},
number = 1,
volume = 302,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jun 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Sun Jun 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}