NSUF 09-185: Real-time ATRC Flux Sensors
Although the flexibility of the 250 MWt Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) and the associated Advanced Test Reactor Critical (ATR) facility are unsurpassed by other operating test reactors in the world in many respects, real-time methods for detecting fast and thermal neutron flux in the ATR are quite limited compared to the state of the art technology available and used elsewhere. This is particularly true of the measurement of fission reaction rates, which are directly related to the power deposited in a test, and/or the measurement of the thermal and fast neutron flux. Specifically, in the last ten years the possibility of performing in-situ, real-time fission reaction rates is feasible. One can obtain the actual power deposited into a test without resorting to complicated correction (coupling) factors because the measurement is direct. In addition, it is possible to directly measure minor actinide fission reaction rates, which greatly expands the capabilities of the ATR beyond materials testing.Finally, there is the possibility of providing time-dependent monitoring, e.g., the fission reaction rate or fast/thermal flux during a transient such as a ramp in power. Based on experience at TREAT, the ability to follow the flux in real-time during a transient is invaluable, and eliminates many sources of errors in interpreting test results. Recently, the ATR National Scientific User Facility (NSUF) launched a collaborative effort with research organizations in France and Norway to improve real-time instrumentation available to ATR users. Tasks identified in this project would allow DOE-NE programs to take advantage of this collaboration by evaluating new real-time state-of-the-art in-pile flux detection instrumentation being developed and commercially-available flux detection sensors currently deployed by these international organizations. Specifically, this project will compare the accuracy, response time, and long duration performance of joint French/Belgium-developed sub-miniature fission chambers with commercially available self-powered neutron detectors (SPNDs) and back-to-back fission chambers to provide online regional power measurement in the ATRC. Results from these evaluations will not only provide key insights about the feasibility of using these detectors in ATR testing, but also offer the potential to increase the ATRC’s curren power limit and its ability to perform low-level irradiation experiments (for minor actinide burning experiments for example). Hence, results from this project may yield an attractive, less expensive option, to National Scientific User Facility (NSUF) customers not requiring the ATR’s higher neutron flux. The effort will also directly complement current activities focused on improvement of software tools, computational protocols and in-core instrumentation for the ATR under the ATR Modeling, Simulation and V&V Upgrade initiative.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Although the flexibility of the 250 MWt Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) and the associated Advanced Test Reactor Critical (ATR) facility are unsurpassed by other operating test reactors in the world in many respects, real-time methods for detecting fast and thermal neutron flux in the ATR are quite limited compared to the state of the art technology available and used elsewhere. This is particularly true of the measurement of fission reaction rates, which are directly related to the power deposited in a test, and/or the measurement of the thermal and fast neutron flux. Specifically, in the last ten years the possibility of performing in-situ, real-time fission reaction rates is feasible. One can obtain the actual power deposited into a test without resorting to complicated correction (coupling) factors because the measurement is direct. In addition, it is possible to directly measure minor actinide fission reaction rates, which greatly expands the capabilities of the ATR beyond materials testing.Finally, there is the possibility of providing time-dependent monitoring, e.g., the fission reaction rate or fast/thermal flux during a transient such as a ramp in power. Based on experience at TREAT, the ability to follow the flux in real-time during a transient is invaluable, and eliminates many sources of errors in interpreting test results. Recently, the ATR National Scientific User Facility (NSUF) launched a collaborative effort with research organizations in France and Norway to improve real-time instrumentation available to ATR users. Tasks identified in this project would allow DOE-NE programs to take advantage of this collaboration by evaluating new real-time state-of-the-art in-pile flux detection instrumentation being developed and commercially-available flux detection sensors currently deployed by these international organizations. Specifically, this project will compare the accuracy, response time, and long duration performance of joint French/Belgium-developed sub-miniature fission chambers with commercially available self-powered neutron detectors (SPNDs) and back-to-back fission chambers to provide online regional power measurement in the ATRC. Results from these evaluations will not only provide key insights about the feasibility of using these detectors in ATR testing, but also offer the potential to increase the ATRC’s curren power limit and its ability to perform low-level irradiation experiments (for minor actinide burning experiments for example). Hence, results from this project may yield an attractive, less expensive option, to National Scientific User Facility (NSUF) customers not requiring the ATR’s higher neutron flux. The effort will also directly complement current activities focused on improvement of software tools, computational protocols and in-core instrumentation for the ATR under the ATR Modeling, Simulation and V&V Upgrade initiative. |
| Award Announced Date | 2009-02-04T00:00:00 |
| Awarded Institution | Illinois Institute of Technology |
| Facility | Materials Research Collaborative Access Team (MRCAT) |
| Facility Tech Lead | Alina Zackrone, Jeff Terry |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | George Imel |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | Irradiation |
| RTE Number | 185 |