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Reactivity monitoring of the accelerator driven VENUS-F subcritical reactor with the "current-to-flux" method.
- Source :
-
Annals of Nuclear Energy . Jun2019, Vol. 128, p12-23. 12p. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Highlights • The "current-to flux" method for monitoring ADS subcriticality was successfully tested experimentally. • Spatial effects affecting the reactivity estimation can be corrected with Monte Carlo simulations. • The robustness and precision of the correction technique is demonstrated. Abstract In this article, we evaluate the quality and robustness of a method envisaged for the on-line monitoring of the subcriticality of an ADS, called the "current-to flux" (CTF) method. For this evaluation, we performed a dedicated experiment at the GUINEVERE facility. It is hosted at the SCK-CEN and consists of the subcritical VENUS-F reactor coupled to a continuous external neutron source provided by the GENEPI-3C accelerator. During this experiment, the reactor control rods were moved in various patterns, and the subsequent dynamical evolutions of the reactor reactivity were monitored using nine fission chambers (FCs). The space-energy effects that bias the reactivity values are corrected using a procedure based on simulations computed with the Monte Carlo neutron transport code MCNP. We investigate the precision of this correction procedure by comparison with a reactivity value extracted with the beam interruption technique and we demonstrate its insensitivity to the simplifications made on the VENUS-F reactor modeling and to a simulation key parameter such as the boron carbide density filling the control rods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03064549
- Volume :
- 128
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Annals of Nuclear Energy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 135492273
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2018.12.033