Reactivity and flux characterization of the Jordan subcritical assembly

Majdi I. Radaideh; Ibrahim Jarrah; Salaheddin Malkawi; Ahmad Khateeb; Ibrahim Al-Issa

doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.05.003

Reactivity and flux characterization of the Jordan subcritical assembly

Majdi I. Radaideh, Ibrahim Jarrah, Salaheddin Malkawi, Ahmad Khateeb, Ibrahim Al-Issa

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Abstract

Nuclear subcritical assemblies are widely used for research, education, and training due to their inherently safe characteristics and operation at subcritical state. Following the construction of Jordan Subcritical Assembly (JSA) at the Jordan University of Science and Technology campus, a detailed computational neutronic analysis of the assembly was performed to investigate the criticality as well as the neutron spectrum within the facility. A three dimensional model of the JSA, as built, was developed using various computational tools including MCNP5, KENO-V.a (SCALE), and Serpent. The range of the k_eff of the JSA using different codes and libraries is 0.96151± 0.00009 – 0.96571± 0.00007 with a maximum difference of 420 pcm. The reference k_eff value was obtained at the optimal lattice pitch of 19.1 mm, moderator level of 132 cm, and reflector thickness of 40 cm. The effect of the change in the moderator temperature and fuel temperature on the reactivity of the JSA was investigated and found to be negative, which means that the facility is inherently safe. The value of the total effective delayed neutron fraction (β_eff) for the facility is 6.645E-03. The radial and axial flux characterization in the JSA were performed in this study. In addition, the neutron flux was simulated in the seven experimental channels in JSA which can be used for validation purposes. The neutron spectrum inside JSA was calculated at different axial locations using 252 energy groups and the results showed that the fast flux dominates the spectrum at regions close to the external neutron source and diminishes further away from the source.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	43-53
Number of pages	11
Journal	Progress in Nuclear Energy
Volume	108
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.05.003
State	Published - Sep 2018
Externally published	Yes

Funding

Subcritical assemblies are nuclear reactors that produce fission without achieving criticality. They are useful facilities for students, trainees and researchers to gain practical experience and to learn how to calculate the main reactor physics parameters. A reactor is subcritical if the amount of fissionable material present, coupled with its physical arrangement and other supplementary materials such as those that comprise the fuel lattice structure, moderators, reflectors, fuel rod cladding, etc., are not sufficient to achieve a self-sustained fission chain reaction. The reactor state is expressed by the effective multiplication factor (k

Keywords

Criticality
Flux characterization
JSA
Reactivity
Subcritical assembly

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10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.05.003

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title = "Reactivity and flux characterization of the Jordan subcritical assembly",

abstract = "Nuclear subcritical assemblies are widely used for research, education, and training due to their inherently safe characteristics and operation at subcritical state. Following the construction of Jordan Subcritical Assembly (JSA) at the Jordan University of Science and Technology campus, a detailed computational neutronic analysis of the assembly was performed to investigate the criticality as well as the neutron spectrum within the facility. A three dimensional model of the JSA, as built, was developed using various computational tools including MCNP5, KENO-V.a (SCALE), and Serpent. The range of the keff of the JSA using different codes and libraries is 0.96151± 0.00009 – 0.96571± 0.00007 with a maximum difference of 420 pcm. The reference keff value was obtained at the optimal lattice pitch of 19.1 mm, moderator level of 132 cm, and reflector thickness of 40 cm. The effect of the change in the moderator temperature and fuel temperature on the reactivity of the JSA was investigated and found to be negative, which means that the facility is inherently safe. The value of the total effective delayed neutron fraction (βeff) for the facility is 6.645E-03. The radial and axial flux characterization in the JSA were performed in this study. In addition, the neutron flux was simulated in the seven experimental channels in JSA which can be used for validation purposes. The neutron spectrum inside JSA was calculated at different axial locations using 252 energy groups and the results showed that the fast flux dominates the spectrum at regions close to the external neutron source and diminishes further away from the source.",

keywords = "Criticality, Flux characterization, JSA, Reactivity, Subcritical assembly",

author = "Radaideh, \{Majdi I.\} and Ibrahim Jarrah and Salaheddin Malkawi and Ahmad Khateeb and Ibrahim Al-Issa",

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T1 - Reactivity and flux characterization of the Jordan subcritical assembly

AU - Radaideh, Majdi I.

AU - Jarrah, Ibrahim

AU - Malkawi, Salaheddin

AU - Khateeb, Ahmad

AU - Al-Issa, Ibrahim

PY - 2018/9

Y1 - 2018/9

N2 - Nuclear subcritical assemblies are widely used for research, education, and training due to their inherently safe characteristics and operation at subcritical state. Following the construction of Jordan Subcritical Assembly (JSA) at the Jordan University of Science and Technology campus, a detailed computational neutronic analysis of the assembly was performed to investigate the criticality as well as the neutron spectrum within the facility. A three dimensional model of the JSA, as built, was developed using various computational tools including MCNP5, KENO-V.a (SCALE), and Serpent. The range of the keff of the JSA using different codes and libraries is 0.96151± 0.00009 – 0.96571± 0.00007 with a maximum difference of 420 pcm. The reference keff value was obtained at the optimal lattice pitch of 19.1 mm, moderator level of 132 cm, and reflector thickness of 40 cm. The effect of the change in the moderator temperature and fuel temperature on the reactivity of the JSA was investigated and found to be negative, which means that the facility is inherently safe. The value of the total effective delayed neutron fraction (βeff) for the facility is 6.645E-03. The radial and axial flux characterization in the JSA were performed in this study. In addition, the neutron flux was simulated in the seven experimental channels in JSA which can be used for validation purposes. The neutron spectrum inside JSA was calculated at different axial locations using 252 energy groups and the results showed that the fast flux dominates the spectrum at regions close to the external neutron source and diminishes further away from the source.

AB - Nuclear subcritical assemblies are widely used for research, education, and training due to their inherently safe characteristics and operation at subcritical state. Following the construction of Jordan Subcritical Assembly (JSA) at the Jordan University of Science and Technology campus, a detailed computational neutronic analysis of the assembly was performed to investigate the criticality as well as the neutron spectrum within the facility. A three dimensional model of the JSA, as built, was developed using various computational tools including MCNP5, KENO-V.a (SCALE), and Serpent. The range of the keff of the JSA using different codes and libraries is 0.96151± 0.00009 – 0.96571± 0.00007 with a maximum difference of 420 pcm. The reference keff value was obtained at the optimal lattice pitch of 19.1 mm, moderator level of 132 cm, and reflector thickness of 40 cm. The effect of the change in the moderator temperature and fuel temperature on the reactivity of the JSA was investigated and found to be negative, which means that the facility is inherently safe. The value of the total effective delayed neutron fraction (βeff) for the facility is 6.645E-03. The radial and axial flux characterization in the JSA were performed in this study. In addition, the neutron flux was simulated in the seven experimental channels in JSA which can be used for validation purposes. The neutron spectrum inside JSA was calculated at different axial locations using 252 energy groups and the results showed that the fast flux dominates the spectrum at regions close to the external neutron source and diminishes further away from the source.

KW - Criticality

KW - Flux characterization

KW - JSA

KW - Reactivity

KW - Subcritical assembly

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SP - 43

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JO - Progress in Nuclear Energy

JF - Progress in Nuclear Energy

ER -

Reactivity and flux characterization of the Jordan subcritical assembly

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