COMPARATIVE NEUTRONIC ANALYSIS OF IRT FUELS

Authors

  • Ramadan M. Kuridan Nuclear Engineering Department, Al-Fateh University, Tripoli, Libya Author
  • Ayman M. Dandi Nuclear Engineering Department, Al-Fateh University, Tripoli, Libya Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66411/jer.v7i7.413

Keywords:

reactor, flux, enriched fuel, monte carlo, core, reactivity, power

Abstract

The Monte Carlo method is used for the comparison of the neutronic analysis of the IRT fuels. The effective multiplication factor (k eff ), excess reactivity, control worth, and shutdown margin are calculated and are found to be as in the following Table:

 

IRT-2M

IRT-4M

IRT-MR

k eff

1.20665

1.21190

1.23271

ρex k / k %)

17.1

17.5

18.9

Total worth

26.81

24.05

21.54

ρsm (%)

9.7

6.6

2.6

 

 

Also, the radial, axial, horizontal (cross sectional) thermal and fast flux distributions are obtained. When the IRT-4M fuel is used the thermal flux is reduced significantly in the core and the beryllium reflector where the irradiation channels are located. This will have an adverse effect on the irradiation of samples which may require power increase as compared to the IRT-2M fuel. The power distribution horizontally and axially in the hottest tube and hence the hottest spot are determined. The power produced in the hottest tubes in the three cores are 0.69, 0.71, 0.72 Mega watts respectively. These results are basic for further thermal hydraulic and safety calculations.

References

[1] El-Gammudi. Feasibility study of core conversion from HEU to LEU IRT Fuel using WIMSD code, B.Sc project, nuclear Engineering department, Alfateh University, Tripoli, Libya, 2004.

[2] J.Briesmeister, MCNP-4C code manual, 2004

[3] C.D. Harmon, R.D. Busch, J.F. Briesmeister, R.A. Forster, and T.Goorley. Criticality Calculations with MCNP5: A Primer, 2004.

[4] A.V. Vatulin, Y.A. Stetskiy, V.A. Mishunin, V.B. Suprun, and I.V. Dobrikova. Development of new-type fuel elements for Russian-built Research Reactors, 2001.

[5] J.E. Matos, Accelerating the Design and Testing of LEU Fuel Assemblies for Conversion of Russian-Designed Research Reactors Outside Russia

[6] International Meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors, October 5-10, 2003, Chicago, IL USA

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Published

31-03-2007

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

[1]
R. M. . Kuridan and A. M. . Dandi, “COMPARATIVE NEUTRONIC ANALYSIS OF IRT FUELS”, JER, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 68–79, Mar. 2007, doi: 10.66411/jer.v7i7.413.