AXIAL FLUX PROFILE IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTOR
This work demonstrates an approach to determine probability of perturbation of the axial profile of the thermal neutron flux in the Advanced Test Reactor. The axial flux profile is expected to follow a theoretical cosine shape, due to the minimal use of vertically-withdrawn shims. Reactivity is norm...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
EDP Sciences
2021-01-01
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| Series: | EPJ Web of Conferences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2021/01/epjconf_physor2020_08007.pdf |
| _version_ | 1830516967596883968 |
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| author | Manwaring Nathan Reichenberger Michael |
| author_facet | Manwaring Nathan Reichenberger Michael |
| author_sort | Manwaring Nathan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This work demonstrates an approach to determine probability of perturbation of the axial profile of the thermal neutron flux in the Advanced Test Reactor. The axial flux profile is expected to follow a theoretical cosine shape, due to the minimal use of vertically-withdrawn shims. Reactivity is normally controlled by rotation of Outer Shim Control Cylinders, uniformly affecting neutron flux at all axial locations. The Advanced Test Reactor routinely accepts for irradiation experiments of a variety of designs. Among the analyses required by the safety basis approved by the United States Department of Energy is the characterization of a new experiment’s potential for perturbing the axial flux, which could exacerbate power peaking in the driver fuel. However, this perturbation can be more or less severe in different locations within the fuel. Therefore, the best characterization of axial flux perturbation requires knowledge of baseline axial flux. Such information is obtained by measuring decay in activated uranium flux wires irradiated at known positions in cooling channels in plate-type fuel elements. Due to variability in measured axial flux, it is not usually clear whether a given anomalous measurement is caused by an actual perturbation. Assuming normality in random measurement errors, the probability of an actual perturbation is quantified. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:52:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45daae9779384ca5ad962a75dcb510ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2100-014X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:52:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EPJ Web of Conferences |
| spelling | doaj.art-45daae9779384ca5ad962a75dcb510ce2022-12-21T18:39:57ZengEDP SciencesEPJ Web of Conferences2100-014X2021-01-012470800710.1051/epjconf/202124708007epjconf_physor2020_08007AXIAL FLUX PROFILE IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTORManwaring NathanReichenberger Michael0Idaho National LaboratoryThis work demonstrates an approach to determine probability of perturbation of the axial profile of the thermal neutron flux in the Advanced Test Reactor. The axial flux profile is expected to follow a theoretical cosine shape, due to the minimal use of vertically-withdrawn shims. Reactivity is normally controlled by rotation of Outer Shim Control Cylinders, uniformly affecting neutron flux at all axial locations. The Advanced Test Reactor routinely accepts for irradiation experiments of a variety of designs. Among the analyses required by the safety basis approved by the United States Department of Energy is the characterization of a new experiment’s potential for perturbing the axial flux, which could exacerbate power peaking in the driver fuel. However, this perturbation can be more or less severe in different locations within the fuel. Therefore, the best characterization of axial flux perturbation requires knowledge of baseline axial flux. Such information is obtained by measuring decay in activated uranium flux wires irradiated at known positions in cooling channels in plate-type fuel elements. Due to variability in measured axial flux, it is not usually clear whether a given anomalous measurement is caused by an actual perturbation. Assuming normality in random measurement errors, the probability of an actual perturbation is quantified.https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2021/01/epjconf_physor2020_08007.pdfadvanced test reactoratraxialprobability |
| spellingShingle | Manwaring Nathan Reichenberger Michael AXIAL FLUX PROFILE IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTOR EPJ Web of Conferences advanced test reactor atr axial probability |
| title | AXIAL FLUX PROFILE IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTOR |
| title_full | AXIAL FLUX PROFILE IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTOR |
| title_fullStr | AXIAL FLUX PROFILE IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTOR |
| title_full_unstemmed | AXIAL FLUX PROFILE IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTOR |
| title_short | AXIAL FLUX PROFILE IN THE ADVANCED TEST REACTOR |
| title_sort | axial flux profile in the advanced test reactor |
| topic | advanced test reactor atr axial probability |
| url | https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2021/01/epjconf_physor2020_08007.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manwaringnathan axialfluxprofileintheadvancedtestreactor AT reichenbergermichael axialfluxprofileintheadvancedtestreactor |