ENGR 55400 Reactor Physics and Engineering

Assignment #4 Solutions
Q1. Critical Fuel Mass
A 5-Watt experimental reactor is constructed in the form of a cylindrical reactor with a height to radius ratio of
H/R = 1.82. The reactor is fueled with a homogeneous mixture of U-235 and light water with a fuel concentration of
0.0145 g/cm 3 . Because of its low power, the reactor operates at essentially room temperature and atmospheric
pressure.
(a) Using the modified one-group theory, calculate the dimensions of this reactor that has the smallest critical
mass. Given
(b) Determine the critical mass of the fuel.

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 b) Critical Fuel Mass: mf = ρf x V, where V = reactor volume = = cm3

Since the fuel concentration is ρf = 0.0145 g/cm3, mf = 0.0145 x 9.98x105 = 14.47 kg

Q2. Critical Slab Reactor

A slab reactor of 200 cm thickness consists of a homogeneous mixture of graphite and U-235. The reactor is critical
and its maximum thermal flux is 5 x 1012 neutrons/cm2-sec. Using the modified one-group theory, calculate:
a) the geometric buckling of the reactor;
b) the critical atomic concentration of uranium fuel;
c) the thermal diffusion area, LT2, of the fuel-moderator mixture;
d) the value of k∞;
e) the thermal neutron flux profile, φ(x), and current density, Jx(x);
f) the thermal power produced per cm2 of this slab.

x 1023

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Q3. A reactor shaped as an infinite slab of thickness, T (cm), is made of a homogeneous mixture of U-235 and heavy water
(D2O). The fuel (U-235) to moderator (D2O) atom density ratio is (NF/NM) = 10-5.

a) Using the one-group reactor theory and the parameter values given below, determine the infinite multiplication factor, k∞,
material buckling of the core, Bc2, and the critical core thickness, T. Assume the fast fission factor, ε = 1.0, and resonance
escape probability, p = 1.0.

Property values: η = 2.06, LM2 = 9400 cm2, DM = 0.87 cm, σaF = 681 barns (1 barn = 10-24 cm2), σaM = 0.0013 barns, where the
subscript, F, refers to the fuel, and M to the moderator. Because of the low fuel concentration in the core, the diffusion
coefficients for the core and reflector can be assumed to be equal, Dc = Dr.

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b) Now, a reflected slab reactor is constructed by adding a layer of moderator (D2O only) of thickness b = 70 cm, to both sides
of a new slab core of thickness, T’, as shown below. The materials used are the same as those of part (a). Would the infinite
multiplication factor, k∞, for this reflected reactor remain the same, decrease or increase from that of the bare slab reactor
calculated in Part (a)? Why?
Answer: The infinite multiplication factor, k∞, is unchanged since the materials used in the core of a
bare slab reactor and reflected reactor is the same.
(c) The criticality condition for the reflected slab reactor is given by,
Bctan(BcT’/2) = (Dr/DcLr)coth(b/Lr),

where coth(x) = (ex + e-x)/(ex - e-x), and Lr = diffusion length of the reflector.
Using this equation and the value of buckling, Bc2, obtained in part (a), calculate the critical core thickness, T’, of the
reflected slab reactor.

Q4. Production and Radioactive Decay of Poisons

One of the samarium isotopes, 149Sm, is a stable nuclide regarded as a reactor poison because it has a large neutron
absorption cross section, σa. It is not directly produced from the fission process, however, it is a β- decay product of

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promethium, 149Pm, which has a decay constant, λP. 149Pm is produced directly from fission with a fission yield of γP and a
fission cross section, Σf.

a) Draw a sketch illustrating the modes of production and decay of 149Pm and 149Sm similar to that for xenon poisoning
given in class. Neglect neutron absorption by 149Pm.

b) Write the rate equations for both nuclides describing the time rate of change in Pm and
149
Sm concentrations,
149

dP(t)/dt and dS(t)/dt, respectively.

c) If the initial concentrations were P(0) and S(0), and the reactor has been operating at a constant neutron flux of φo from
t = 0, the solutions to the differential equations obtained in part (b) are as follows.
γ P Σ f φo
P(t ) = [1 − e −λ t ] + P(0)e −λ t
P P

λP
γ PΣ f γ P Σ f φo − λ P P(0) −σ aφot
S (t ) = S (0)e −σ aφot + [1 − e −σ aφot ] + − [e − e − λP t ]
σa λ P − σ aφ o
After more than 300 hours of operation, the equilibrium concentrations, P∞ and S∞, would be reached. Give equations for
these equilibrium concentrations in terms of the relevant parameters and calculate those concentrations using the
following parameter values.

Absorption cross section of 149Sm: σa = 40,800 barns (1 barn = 10-24 cm2)

Decay constant of 149Pm: λP = 3.56x10 -6 sec-1
Fission yield of 149Pm: γP = 0.0113
Fission cross section: Σf = 0.00142 cm-1

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d) After operating at a constant flux, φo, for more than 300 hours, the reactor is shut down as shown below. Give the rate
equations and obtain the post-shutdown concentrations, P(t’) and S(t’), where t’ is the time after shutdown.
φo
Ae − bt
Hint: ∫ Ae dt = −
−bt
+ const. Neutron
b Flux

t
t=0 t’
t’=0

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e) Long after the reactor has been shut down, t’ >> 0, a new equilibrium concentration, S∞*, will be reached. Calculate the
value of the constant flux, φo, at which the reactor was operating prior to shutdown, that would lead to the final
concentration equal to twice the equilibrium concentration before shutdown, i.e., S∞*= 2S∞.

= 8.725x1013 neutrons/cm2sec