Optimized Control Rod Design of the Reactor BR2

Silva Kalcheva, Edgar Koonen, André Beeckmans de West-Meerbeeck

Research outputpeer-review

Abstract

At the present time the BR2 reactor uses control rods with cadmium as neutron absorbing part. Due to the burn up of 113Cd in the hot spot during reactor operation, the presently used rods for reactivity control of the BR2 reactor have to be replaced by new ones. Considered are various types control rods with full active part of cadmium, hafnium, europium oxide and gadolinium oxide. Options to decrease the burn up of the control rod material at the hot spot, such as use of stainless steel in the lower active rod part are discussed. The changing of the control rod characteristics and the perturbation effects on the reactor neutronics are investigated during 1000 EFPD of reactor operation. The calculations are performed for the full scale 3-D heterogeneous geometry model of BR2 using MCNP&ORIGEN-S combined method, MCNPX 26E. An optimal design is given and a new control rod type is chosen for the reactivity control of the reactor BR2.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 12th Int. Topical Meeting on Research Reactor Fuel Management
Place of PublicationBrussels, Belgium
StatePublished - 5 Mar 2008
Event2008 - RRFM - Research Reactor Fuel Management: 12th ENS Topical Meeting - ENS, Hamburg
Duration: 1 Mar 20086 Mar 2008

Conference

Conference2008 - RRFM - Research Reactor Fuel Management
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityHamburg
Period2008-03-012008-03-06

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