Calculations to Support On-line Neutron Spectrum Adjustment by Measurements with Miniature Fission Chambers in the JSI TRIGA Reactor

Preliminary calculations were performed with the aim to establish optimal experimental conditions for the measurement campaign within the collaboration between the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) and Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA Cadarache). The goal of the project is to additionally characterize the neutron spectruminside the JSI TRIGA reactor core with focus on the measurement epi-thermal and fast part of the spectrum. Measurements will be performed with fission chambers containing different fissile materials (235U, 237Np and 242Pu) covered with thermal neutron filters (Cd and Gd). The changes in the detected signal and neutron flux spectrum with and without transmission filter were studied. Additional effort was put into evaluation of the effect of the filter geometry (e.g. opening on the top end of the filter) on the detector signal. After the analysis of the scoping calculations it was concluded to position the experiment in the outside core ring inside one of the empty fuel element positions

Large Object Irradiation Facility In The Tangential Channel Of The JSI TRIGA Reactor

This paper presents the design and installation of a new irradiation device in the Tangential Channel of the JSI TRIGA reactor in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The purpose of the device is to enable on-line irradiation testing of electronic components considerably larger in size (of lateral dimensions of at least 12 cm) than currently possible in the irradiation channels located in the reactor core, in a relatively high neutron flux (exceeding 10^12 n cm^-2 s^-1) and to provide adequate neutron and gamma radiation shielding

Reaction Rate Benchmark Experiments with Miniature Fission Chambers at the Slovenian TRIGA Mark II Reactor

A series of fission rate profile measurements with miniature fission chambers, developed by the Commisariat á l’énergie atomique et auxénergies alternatives, were performed at the Jožef Stefan Institute’s TRIGA research reactor. Two types of fission chambers with different fissionable coating (235U and 238U) were used to perform axial fission rate profile measurements at various radial positions and several control rod configurations. The experimental campaign was supported by an extensive set of computations, based on a validated Monte Carlo computational model of the TRIGA reactor. The computing effort included neutron transport calculations to support the planning and design of the experiments as well as calculations to aid the evaluation of experimental and computational uncertainties and major biases. The evaluation of uncertainties was performed by employing various types of sensitivity analyses such as experimental parameter perturbation and core reaction rate gradient calculations. It has been found that the experimental uncertainty of the measurements is sufficiently low, i.e. the total relative fission rate uncertainty being approximately 5 %, in order for the experiments to serve as benchmark experiments for validation of fission rate profiles. The effect of the neutron flux redistribution due to the control rod movement was studied by performing measurements and calculations of fission rates and fission chamber responses in different axial and radial positions at different control rod configurations. It was confirmed that the control rod movement affects the position of the maximum in the axial fission rate distribution, as well as the height of the local maxima. The optimal detector position, in which the redistributions would have minimum effect on its signal, was determined

Calculations to Support On-line Neutron Spectrum Adjustment by Measurements with Miniature Fission Chambers in the JSI TRIGA Reactor

Preliminary calculations were performed with the aim to establish optimal experimental conditions for the measurement campaign within the collaboration between the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI) and Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA Cadarache). The goal of the project is to additionally characterize the neutron spectruminside the JSI TRIGA reactor core with focus on the measurement epi-thermal and fast part of the spectrum. Measurements will be performed with fission chambers containing different fissile materials (235U, 237Np and 242Pu) covered with thermal neutron filters (Cd and Gd). The changes in the detected signal and neutron flux spectrum with and without transmission filter were studied. Additional effort was put into evaluation of the effect of the filter geometry (e.g. opening on the top end of the filter) on the detector signal. After the analysis of the scoping calculations it was concluded to position the experiment in the outside core ring inside one of the empty fuel element positions

Reaction Rate Benchmark Experiments with Miniature Fission Chambers at the Slovenian TRIGA Mark II Reactor

A series of fission rate profile measurements with miniature fission chambers, developed by the Commisariat á l’énergie atomique et auxénergies alternatives, were performed at the Jožef Stefan Institute’s TRIGA research reactor. Two types of fission chambers with different fissionable coating (235U and 238U) were used to perform axial fission rate profile measurements at various radial positions and several control rod configurations. The experimental campaign was supported by an extensive set of computations, based on a validated Monte Carlo computational model of the TRIGA reactor. The computing effort included neutron transport calculations to support the planning and design of the experiments as well as calculations to aid the evaluation of experimental and computational uncertainties and major biases. The evaluation of uncertainties was performed by employing various types of sensitivity analyses such as experimental parameter perturbation and core reaction rate gradient calculations. It has been found that the experimental uncertainty of the measurements is sufficiently low, i.e. the total relative fission rate uncertainty being approximately 5 %, in order for the experiments to serve as benchmark experiments for validation of fission rate profiles. The effect of the neutron flux redistribution due to the control rod movement was studied by performing measurements and calculations of fission rates and fission chamber responses in different axial and radial positions at different control rod configurations. It was confirmed that the control rod movement affects the position of the maximum in the axial fission rate distribution, as well as the height of the local maxima. The optimal detector position, in which the redistributions would have minimum effect on its signal, was determined

Measurements of miniature ionization chamber currents in the JSI TRIGA Mark II reactor demonstrate the importance of the delayed contribution to the photon field in nuclear reactors

International audienceThe characterization of experimental locations of a research nuclear reactor implies the determination of neutron and photon flux levels within, with the best achievable accuracy. This study focuses on the photon flux problematic. In nuclear reactors, photon fluxes are commonly calculated by Monte Carlo simulations but rarely measured on-line. In this context, experiments were conducted with a miniature gas ionization chamber (MIC) based on miniature fission chamber mechanical parts, recently developed by the CEA (French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission) irradiated in the core of the Jožef Stefan Institute TRIGA Mark II reactor in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The aim of the study was to compare the measured MIC currents with calculated currents based on simulations with the MCNP6 code. A discrepancy of around 50 per cent was observed between the measured and the calculated currents; in the latter taking into consideration only the prompt photon field. Further experimental measurements of MIC currents following reactor SCRAMs (reactor shutdown with rapid insertions of control rods) provides evidence that over 30 per cent of the total measured signal is due to the delayed photon field, originating from fission and activation products, which are untreated in the calculations. In the comparison between the measured and calculated values, these findings imply an overall discrepancy of less than 20 per cent of the total signal which is still unexplained

Reaction Rate Benchmark Experiments with Miniature Fission Chambers at the Slovenian TRIGA Mark II Reactor

A series of fission rate profile measurements with miniature fission chambers, developed by the Commisariat á l’énergie atomique et auxénergies alternatives, were performed at the Jožef Stefan Institute’s TRIGA research reactor. Two types of fission chambers with different fissionable coating (235U and 238U) were used to perform axial fission rate profile measurements at various radial positions and several control rod configurations. The experimental campaign was supported by an extensive set of computations, based on a validated Monte Carlo computational model of the TRIGA reactor. The computing effort included neutron transport calculations to support the planning and design of the experiments as well as calculations to aid the evaluation of experimental and computational uncertainties and major biases. The evaluation of uncertainties was performed by employing various types of sensitivity analyses such as experimental parameter perturbation and core reaction rate gradient calculations. It has been found that the experimental uncertainty of the measurements is sufficiently low, i.e. the total relative fission rate uncertainty being approximately 5 %, in order for the experiments to serve as benchmark experiments for validation of fission rate profiles. The effect of the neutron flux redistribution due to the control rod movement was studied by performing measurements and calculations of fission rates and fission chamber responses in different axial and radial positions at different control rod configurations. It was confirmed that the control rod movement affects the position of the maximum in the axial fission rate distribution, as well as the height of the local maxima. The optimal detector position, in which the redistributions would have minimum effect on its signal, was determined