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ABSTRACT
The main contributions to the power in a Boron control rod are provided by
the energy deposition rates from alpha rays generated in the Boron and
from gamma rays issued in the absorber and the surrounding fuel material.
To check the validity of calculational methods and data for such a system,
a simulated enriched Boron control rod has been built in the centre of the
critical assembly BALZAC DE-2 in the MASURCA facility. Neutron capture
rates in B ^ i fission rates in U-235, U-238 and Pu-239 have been measured
through the core and the control rod. Gamma heat deposition rates and
doses have been measured with ionization chamber and thermoluminescent
dosemeters respectively, in a joint effort involving three European
laboratories. This paper presents the experimental results and compares
them with theoretical calcualtions.
237
1. INTRODUCTION
In the last ten years several experiments concerned with the gamma heat
deposition in a fast breeder core have been carried out in European criti-
cal facilities with international co-operation. After the study of
heterogeneous configurations in the BIZET programme [1] (UK) and in the
RACINE campaign [2] (France), two experiments have been more particularly
devoted to the gamma heat deposition in a singularity : a sodium-steel
diluent was built in the centre of the BALZAC 1-DE 1 core of the MASURCA
critical facility, and recently, a large absorber rod loaded with enriched
boron carbide was simulated in the centre of BALZAC 1-DE 2, the subject of
this paper.
This paper reports on the execution of the experiments, their results and
evaluation, the theoretical analyses and the comparison between calcula-
tion and experiment. The present status of photon source libraries is
recalled and the developments in progress outlined.
238
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSEMBLY LOADING
The core itself was made of two concentric zones loaded with PUO2-UO2
mixed oxide and enriched UO2 respectively, with an outer radius of about
68 cm, and surrounded by radial and axial breeder zones.
The assembly was an array of square tubes with 10.6 cm side length, con-
taining a lattice of 8 x 8 rodlets filled with various materials (Na,
steel, UO2, mixed oxidej B4C). The outline of the core horizontal cross-
section and details of the central absorber and of the zone where most
measurements took place can be seen in Figure 1.
Vertical access channels were also provided near the centre of six tubes.
Aluminium rods with radial holes for dosemeters could be inserted in these
channels without having to unload the tubes.
239
Following the standard practice at MASURCA, 2 3 5 U foil detectors were ir-
radiated simultaneously at various positions of the reactor lattice and in
a dummy fission chamber. Absolute fission rates measured in the real
calibrated fission chamber instead of the dummy chamber allowed the abso-
lute normalisation of the calculated rate distribution to the measured
one.
Gamma heat deposition measurements were carried out with two independent
techniques :
240
5. THE IRRADIATIONS
Ionization Chamber
All scans with ionization chambers of both types (gas circulation and
sealed) took place at a nominal power level of 300 W. The relative re-
sponse of both chambers has been observed to be constant on most of the
core zone, giving confidence in the response linearity. Only in the ab-
sorber zone deviations of the order of 5 % were present. The gas-circu-
lation chamber results, taken as reference, have been corrected for tem-
perature (monitored by a thermocouple on the chamber wall), pressure and
delayed gamma buildup (monitored with a fixed sealed chamber).
Thermoluminescent Dosemeters
(i) AI2O3 disc-TLD (Mol) : sample holders containing two TLD were put in
two cavities in the aluminium rods. When inserted in the axial
channels, the dosemeters were located above and under the core mid-
plane at a distance of 6 cm.
(iii) TLD-700 from ENEA were strapped on a steel ribbon pulled through the
N-S access channel and carefully located at positions corresponding
to the previous irradiations. At the same time, dosemeters in alu-
minium rods were inserted in 3 axial channels.
241
The processing of the dosemeters before and after in-core irradiation,
including annealing cycles, calibration irradiations and readouts were
carried out by the ENEA-PAS-FiBi Biological Dosimetry Laboratory, with its
standard methods.
Using the same perspex sample holder and conversion factors from exposure
to dose in LiF, Cadarache has calibrated the dosemeters with the °Co
source of the LPR laboratory ; the calibration dose was small compared to
the one deposited in the reactor irradiation, causing additional uncer-
tainty. For that reason, intercalibration took place between Mol and
Cadarache and indicated a discrepancy of 8 % on absolute dose, although
the agreement on relative doses was satisfactory. The discrepancy was
considered as a systematic error and accordingly corrected ; a good agree-
ment was observed later on between the reactor measurement results of the
three laboratories and it confirmed the adequacy of the correction.
Neutron Sensitivity
The TLD-700 neutron response has been obtained from calculated group neu-
tron fluences and energy response functions with the relative sensitiv-
ities measured by Knipe [6] for similar dosemeters, and recently revised
KERMA cross-sections. The correction is a reduction of about 14 % of the
total signal in the plutonium region.
242
Fission Product Gamma Activity
The results of each irradiation run have been corrected by adding the
delayed fission product gamma activity missed by the measuring device
because of its limited residence time in the reactor.
The evolution program ORIGEN 2 [7] was used to calculate the missing ac-
tivity and the results were checked with the time evolution of the gamma
buildup as recorded by the monitor.
Heterogeneity Corrections
For some positions, corrections calculated with the Monte Carlo programme
MCBEND [8] for the RACINE analysis were still applicable ; for other posi-
tions, in particular in the absorber zone, new calculations have been made
with the discrete ordinate programme DOT [9].
The corrections are comprised between 0.92 and unity. They are used to
divide the experimental results, making them comparable with calculation.
Cavity Correction
243
7. CORRECTED EXPERIMENTAL VALUES
The chamber and TLD-700 results differ from each other by 6 % in the fuel
zone ; the AI2O3 TLD are systematically lower than the TLD-700 by some
13 % in the fuel zone, and in good agreement in the absorber zone.
All calculations have been performed with the CCRR/V4 modular code system
developed by Cadarache.
Neutron Calculations
244
Photon Calculations
The gamma calculations have been run with the data and codes included in
the VASC01 [14] system.
The photon transport calculation was carried out with BISTRO, in S16 quad-
rature and P5 anisotropy order, with a fully detailed modelling of the
central absorber, each rodlet being represented, with a fine mesh of 0.663
cm. In the rest of the core, the mesh size is 1.325 cm.
The C/E obtained within the absorber with both the chamber and the TLD
technique sharply drop from a value 0 + 5 % in the B4C region to - 15 % in
the steel/sodium outer ring.
245
9. ANALYSIS BY BELGONÜCLEAIRE WITH UK PHOTON SOURCES AND SNR-PROJECT METH-
ODS
Neutron Calculations
Neutron cross-sections were computed using SNR-Projec? -^standard methods
for the analysis of c r i t i c a l assembly experiments. Fox the homogeneous
mixture of the cell components in each reactor zone, c r i ^ - s e c t i o n s in 26
energy groups were obtained from the KFKINR001 data set [17] and the pro-
cessing code GRUCAL [18], with the heterogeneous structure of the core
c e l l s taken into account using corrections computed by the l a t t i c e code
KAPER [19]. The components of the central singularity were represented
explicitely, without homogeneization.
Neutron fluxes and reaction rates were obtained with the programme DOT IV
in P0S4 options, on a XY model of a 90° sector of the core, with a mesh
width of 1.325 cm in the absorber and the next row of fuel, and 2.65 cm
for the rest of the plutonium zone.
Normalisation of the flux and reaction rate levels was made by selecting
13 measurements of ^35y f i s s i O n rates by foil detectors in the plutonium
zone and adjusting the average calculated value at these locations to the
corresponding experimental absolute value.
The radial profiles of 35^ f i s s i o n rates calculated and measured by f i s -
sion chamber, normalised as explained above, are shown in Figure 5. The
calculation underestimates the measured rate by an average 10 % in the
absorber zone.
Figure 6 shows the radial distributions of measured and calculated capture
r a t e s in ^ B . The experimental curve i s normalised to the 235 y fi S S i O n
r a t e value in the plutonium zone with the absolute measured spectral index
=
CB_K)/F5 1«33. The calculated value i s 1.268 and the peak of the
calculated traverse l i e s 4.7 % below the measured one. Discrepancies of
the order of - 26 % are observed in the absorber centre, the calculated
values being markedly lower than experiment. Similar conclusions can be
drawn from the ENEA analysis.
There has been no attempt, in the present work, to correct the calculated
r a t e s by bias factors before computing the photon source.
246
Photon Calculations
The photon sources for a l l reactions except capture in ^ B have been ob-
tained from the UK source library already used in the BIZET and RACINE
studies. The radial distribution of isotopic capture and fission r a t e s
summed over the 26-energy groups and the fast neutron spectra collapsed to
a five-broad group structure have been combined with the photon spectra
contained in this l i b r a r y , whose data are based on the following compila-
tions : the fission sources were normalised to the total values adjusted
on mass-excesses given by James [20] ; they follow a spectrum derived from
the exponential f i t s of Goldstein [21] to the measurements of Maienschein
[22] ; the photon sources from (n,7 ) reactions are based on the compila-
tion of Sidebotham [23] ; for the inert isotopes, the daughter product
a c t i v i t y i s included on the basis of a 2-year irradiation and the alpha
and beta energy i s included as low energy photons. The sources of photons
emitted after neutron inelastic scatter are derived from neutron cross-
section data in the UK Nuclear Data Library for five broad energy groups.
The Boron-10 sources, not included in the UK l i b r a r y , have been calculated
independently, assuming that a single quantum of 0.478 MeV i s emitted
after the reaction 10B (n, ai) —»> 7 Li m .
The fraction of these reactions to the total (n, <x ) reactions have been
calculated from the branching ratios in the compilation made by Irving for
ENDF [24] and collapsed on the neutron spectra calculated by DOT in the
three boron zones constituting the absorber rod, giving values around
0.94. Other gamma sources in the B4C were neglected.
The photon interaction data have been derived from the GAMLEG [25] library
with ?2 anisotropy order.
A f i r s t transport calculation was run with DOT IV.2 on the XY model with
S4 quadrature and a distributed source including the contributions of a l l
isotopes except Boron-10, with the normal 13-group structure of the UK
library ranging from 7.4 to 0.1 MeV.
Then a second transport calculation was run with only the ^B gamma
source, in a special "low energy" group structure from 0.5 to 0.01 MeV
also using 13 groups, and with an average energy of 0.478 MeV in group 1.
Such a calculation is necessary to represent the transport of the Boron-10
source with a suitable fine energy resolution.
The r e s u l t s of the two calculations, added together, are shown in Figures
2, 3 and 4. The same general trends as in the ENEA analysis can be ob-
served : the gamma dose i s underestimated in the plutonium zone with C/E
values 0.79 (ionisation chamber) and 0.84 (TLD). A sharp variation occurs
between the absorber centre and the transition zone between absorber and
f i s s i l e zone.
247
10. CONCLUSIONS
In Table I, the C/E ratios obtained in older experiments are given togeth-
er with the BALZAC 1-DE 2 values ; a good consistency is found for the TLD
results but the ratios relative to chamber measurements are lower in both
BALZAC cores than in RACINE.
- TABLE I -
C/E Ratios on Gamma Dose in Iron from Three Experimental Cores,
in a Pu-Loaded Zone
248
- TABLE I I -
235 239
T o t a l Gamma E n e r g y Y i e l d s f o r T h e r m a l F i s s i o n i n U and Pu
235 Ö 239 pu
SOURCE MeV/fissior l MeV/fissior l
There is a consensus that the total fission yields should be reduced from
the values in the present libraries (13.8 or 15.02) to about 12.7, which
would of course imply a further decrease of the C/E ratios. Work is cur-
rently in progress among the European partners of the Fast Reactor R & D
Agreement to produce a common photon source library to be implemented in
the Joint European File (JEF2). Present efforts are mainly directed at
re-evaluating the yields for 2 3 ^Pu, 2 3 8 ^ p e ancj QTf an<j ±t is planned
that the completed library will be available by 1990.
Both analyses exhibit a marked increase of C/E from the fissile to the
absorber zone, in apparent inconsistency with the general underestimate of
background sources from the Pu zone. Furthermore, the underestimate of
microscopic ^ B rate observed in both analyses makes this result even more
unexpected, suggesting that the gamma source in ^ B is largely over-
estimated, either because of a too high effective macroscopic capture
cross-section or too high photon yields. Other explanations can be that
the perturbation due to the measuring system, and in particular the
streaming effects and the B^C loading reduction caused by the access chan-
nels are inadequately taken into account in the calculation.
249
Taking the results at face value, the C/E on the power released by the
absorber can be estimated. In the boron carbide rodlets where 85 % of the
power is generated through <* -particle recoils and follows the profile of
the neutron capture rate, the C/E is 0.78 with the BN analysis. In the
structure and coolants zones, considering only the gamma component of heat
generation, the C/E is comprised between 0.92 and 1.02.
The fairly good agreement between calculation and experiment on the gamma
dose within the absorber must be viewed as the fortuitous result of mutu-
ally cancelling errors that should be clarified by future investigations
involving measurements in which the perturbation of the absorber by access
channels should be kept as small as possible.
11. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
During the experimental campaign the services of the MASURCA team, and
particularly Mr. P. BERTRAND, Mr. A. BROCART, Mr. A. COTTIN, Mr. F. LOPEZ
and Mr. J.P. MARQUETTE, were greatly appreciated. The authors gratefully
acknowledge the helpful co-operation of Dr. A.D. KNIPE who provided data
for the neutron sensitivity correction. The UKAEA is also thanked for
providing the UK source library. Prof. G. SCARPA is thanked for making
available the experimental facilities and specialists team in support of
the ENEA analysis.
250
REFERENCES
[I] KNIPE, A.D., de WOUTERS, R., Gamma-Ray Energy Deposition
Measurements in a Heterogeneous Core and Their Analysis, IAEA-SM
244/35, 37-55 (Proceedings of International Symposium on Fast
Reactor Physics, Aix-en-Provence, September 1979).
[2] CALAMAND, D., de WOUTERS, R., KNIPE, A.D., MENIL, R., Measurements
of Gamma-Ray Energy Deposition in a Heterogeneous Reactor
Experimental Configuration and Their Analysis (ANS Topical Meeting
on Reactor Physics and Shielding, Chicago, September 17-19, 1984),
ISBN, 0-89448, p. 659-672.
[3] X-6 Los Alamos Radiation Transport Group, "MCNP : Monte Carlo
Neutron and Photon Transport Code", RSIC Code Package CCC-200, Oak
Ridge National Laboratory (1983).
[4] CLERI, F., Improvements to the 3-D Monte Carlo Module "ACCEPT" for
Coupled Photon-Electron Transport, E.N.E.A. Report FT-WHC-00045, CRE
(Casaccia 1988).
[5] HALBLEIB, J.A., MELHORN, T.A., "ITS : The Integrated TIGER Series of
Coupled Electron/Photon Monte Carlo Transport Codes", Sandia Nat.
Lab. Report SAND 84-0573, Albuquerque (1984).
[6] KNIPE, A.D., The Photon and Neutron Calibration of Thermoluminescent
Dosemeters for Reactor Measurements, AEEW-R1748, ISPN 0 85182 054 9
(1984).
[7] CROFF, A.G., A User's Manual for the 0RIGEN 2 Computer Code,
ORNL/TM-7175 (July 1980).
[8] BENDALL, D.E., BRISSENDEN, R.J., The Monte Carlo Code MCBEND, UKAEA
Internal Document (1980).
[9] DOT-IV : Two-Dimensional Discrete Ordinates Radiation Transport Code
System, RSIC Computer Code Collection, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
CCC-320 (1979).
[10] BURLIN, T.E., A General Theory of Cavity Ionisation, Br. J. Radial
39_ (1966) 727.
[II] KHAIRALLAH, A., RECOLIN, J., Calcul de l'autoprotection rSsonante
dans les cellules complexes par la mSthode des sous-groupes (Corapte
rendu de la Conference Internationale sur les Calculs NumSriques de
Rgacteurs, AIEA, Vienne 1972).
251
[12] CHAUDAT, J.P. et al., Data Adjustments for Fast Reactor Design,
Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc. 27, 877 (1977).
[13] PALMIOTTI, G., CARTA, M., GRANGET, G., SALVAT0RE3, M., SOULE, R.,
Control Rod Heterogeneity Effects in LMFBR : Method Developments and
Experimental Validations (Proceedings of the ANS Topical Meeting on
Advances in Reactor Physics, Mathematics and Computations, Paris,
April 1987).
[17] KIEFHABER, E., "The KfK-INR Set of Group Constants ; Nuclear Data
Basis and First Results of Its Application to the Recalculation of
Fast Zero Power Reactors", KfK-1572, Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe
(1972).
252
[2AJ IRVING, D.C., Evaluation of Neutron Cross-Sections for Boron-10,
ORNL-TM-1872 (ENDF-109) (October 9, 1967).
[25] RENKEN, J.H., ADAMS, K.G., An Improved Capability for Solution of
Photon Transport Problems by the Method of Discrete Ordinates,
SC-RR-79-739 (1969).
[26] SHER, R., BECK, C , Fission Energy Release for 16 Fissioning
Nuclides, EPRI NP-1771 (March 1981).
[27] FORT, E., FREHAUT, J . , LONG, P., Prompt Gammas Emitted in Fission
Evaluations Proposed for JEF2, Report to Be Issued.
o o 0 o o
253
LIST OF CAPTIONS
o o 0 o o
254
Fig. 1 -Horizontal cross section of BALZAC 1-DE2
Channel
North
Gamma monitor
Channel West
B4C rodlet
Central
= Steel rodlet
singularity
=. Na rodlet
N-S
Access channel
255
Fig. 2 Radial Distributions of Calculated and
Measured Gamma Dose Rate in Iron
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