Benchmarks in the IPEN/MB-01 reactor: subcritical reactivity, nickel reflector and sample reactivities

• Grant number: 11/50516-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Nuclear Engineering - Reactor Technologies
• Principal Investigator: Adimir dos Santos
• Grantee: Adimir dos Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to give a contribution for the reactor physics area in the design and elaboration of .experiments that can be considered benchmarks in the IPEN/MB-01 reactor. The selected physical parameters are the ones that require a better, experimental support, as the ones related to subcritical measurements and those related to the effect of heavy reflectors in thermal systems. The subcritical reactivity will be determined employing a novice approach based on the measurements of the APSD (Auto Power Spectral Density) and/or CPSD (Cross Power Spectral Density) by means of pulse detectors and a procedure based on the subcritical kinetic models of Gandini and Salvatores, and Dula and Ravetto. Pulse detectors are needed because current-mode detectors have no enough neutron sensitivity. Parallel to that, a subcritical reactimeter will be developed employing the standard point kinetic equations with a source termo The development of such reactimeter will allow a direct application in the physics tests of ANGRA-I and in a nearly future in the first criticalization of the Multipurpose Brazilian Reactor (RMB). Moreover, important parameters related to the reactor physics area will be evaluated through the elaboration of critical configurations to the ICSBEP (International Criticality Safety benchmark Evaluation Project) and several experiments to the IRPhE (International Reactor Physics Benchmark Evaluation Project). For moderated values of reactivity the results of this reactimeter will compared to those based on the mo del of Gandini and Salvatores anel/or Dula and Ravetto. The Nickel reflector experiment will be performed to provide experimental support for the validation of calculation methodologies frequently used for the stainless steel reflector. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DOS SANTOS, A.; DE ANDRADE E SILVA, G. S.; MURA, L. F.; FUGA, R.; JEREZ, R.; MENDONCA, A. G.. Three Heavy Reflector Experiments in the IPEN/MB-01 Reactor: Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel, and Nickel. NUCLEAR DATA SHEETS, v. 118, p. 568-570, APR 2014. (11/50516-8)

DOS SANTOS, ADIMIR; LEE, SEUNG MIN; DINIZ, RICARDO; JEREZ, ROGERIO. A new experimental approach for subcritical reactivity determination of multiplying systems. ANNALS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, v. 59, p. 243-254, SEP 2013. (11/50516-8)

DOS SANTOS, ADIMIR; DINIZ, RICARDO. The correlation matrix for the effective delayed neutron parameters of the IPEN/MB-01 reactor. ANNALS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, v. 136, FEB 2020. (11/50516-8)