Experimental Measurements of Delayed Fission Product Gamma-Ray Transmission Through Low Enriched UO2 Fuel Pin Lattices in Air
Experimental measurements of delayed fission-product gamma-ray transmission through low-enriched UO{sub 2} fuel pin lattices in an air medium were conducted at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility (RCF). The RCF core consists of excess Special Power Excursion Reactor Test (SPERT) fuel pins, enriched to 4.81 weight percent {sup 235}U, clad in stainless steel. An experimental apparatus was constructed to hold various arrangements of fuel pin lattices. The arrangements consisted of a single activated source pin taken from the reactor core surrounded by inactive fuel pins in an air medium. A sodium-iodide detector and gamma-ray spectroscopy system was used to generate a pulse-height spectrum of the gamma-ray radiation for detector positions outside the lattice. The change in radiation intensity as the detector is rotated about the vertical axis of the lattice, the ''channeling effect,'' was measured. Experimental measurements of the channeling effect were performed for six arrangements; 3 x 3, 5 x 5, and 7 x 7 lattices, with both the comer position and center position containing the activated pin. The results of the measurements demonstrate that the gamma-ray radiation intensity can vary widely, as a function of angle, relative to the vertical axis of the lattice.
- Research Organization:
- KAPL (Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL), Niskayuna, NY)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC12-00SN39357
- OSTI ID:
- 850143
- Report Number(s):
- LM-04K171; TRN: US200518%%165
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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