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.
Thông tin khác
| Miền | Giá trị |
|---|---|
| Awarded Institution | Idaho State University |
| Embargo End Date | 2026-02-27 |
| Facility Tech Lead | Alina Montrose, Jeff Terry |
| NSUF Call | FY 2009 Spring Solicitation for User Proposals |
| PI | George Imel |
| Project Member | Dr. George Imel - Idaho State University |
| Project Member | Jason Harris - Critical Minerals and Energy Systems Innovation Center (formerly CAES) |
| Project Member | Dr. Joy Rempe - Idaho National Laboratory |
| Project Type | Irradiation |
| Publication | In-core Flux Sensor Evaluations at the ATR Critical Facility Jason Harris, George Imel, David Nigg, Joy Rempe, Troy Unruh Nuclear Technology 187 2014-09-01 http://www.ans.org/store/article-36185/ |
| Publication | Enhanced Instrumentation for Materials and Test Reactor Joshua Daw, Joy Rempe, Troy Unruh ANS 2012-07-22 - 2012-06-26 |
| Publication | Temperature Monitoring Options Available at the Idaho National Laboratory Advanced Test Reactor Joshua Daw, Joy Rempe ASTM 2012-05-19 - 2012-05-23 |
| Publication | Use of Silicon Carbide Monitors in ATR Irradiation Testing Heather Chichester, Joy Rempe, Troy Unruh 8th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human Machine Interface Technologies 2012-07-22 - 2012-07-26 |
| Publication | Use of Silicon Carbide Monitors in ATR Irradiation Testing Heather Chichester, Troy Unruh ANS 2012-07-24 - 2012-07-28 |
| RTE Number | 185 |