PROBLEMS OF ATOMIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants

since 1971

Русский (РФ)

ISSN 2414-1038 (online)

DOI: 10.55176/2414-1038-2021-1-5-14

Authors & Affiliations

Vaivod A.A., Besov S.S., Yudov A.A., Andreyev S.A.
Russian Federal Nuclear Center – Zababakhin All-Russia Research Institute of Technical Physics, Snezhisk, Russia

Yudov A.A. – Head of Laboratory, Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.). Contacts: post box 245, 13, Vasilyev st., Snezhinsk, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, 456770. Tel.: +7 (351) 465-11-49; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Vaivod A.A. – Research Engineer.
Besov S.S. – Research Engineer.
Andreyev S.A. – Head of Subdivision, Cand. Sci. (Phys.-Math.).

Abstract

The article presents the investigation into reactivity and critical parameters affected by temperature changes in cylindrical and spherical space-effective multiplying systems (MS) of plutonium in α-phase without reflector during integral critical experiments. The experiments were performed in “Zababakhin All-Russia Research Institute of Technical Physics” on a critical assembly stand FKBN-2. Brief description of the experimental set up is provided. During the experiments, the multiplication factors and decay constant of the prompt neutrons were determined at a fixed gap between MS parts and different MS temperatures. Values of MS critical gap at different MS temperatures were established experimentally. The change in MS reactivity is initiated by energy release under the plutonium isotopes alpha-decay. As a result, the change in MS temperature during the experiments without its forced regulation may reach ~40 °C. It is proposed to consider this temperature effect when specifying experimental results including error estimation. The obtained experimental data were used to estimate the temperature coefficients of reactivity. The work results are applied to create benchmark models of the multiplying systems.

Keywords
multiplying systems, plutonium, critical experiments, correlation experiments, benchmark models, temperature coefficient of reactivity, effective multiplication factor, fall asymptotic constant, air cooling

Article Text (PDF, in Russian)

References

UDC 539.125.5

Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants, 2021, issue 1, 1:1