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  4. Measurement of the Prompt Decay Constant in a Zero Power Reactor Using a Novel 3D Detector System
 
conference paper

Measurement of the Prompt Decay Constant in a Zero Power Reactor Using a Novel 3D Detector System

Saliba, Michel  
•
Pakari, Oskari  
•
Monange, Wilfried
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2024
Proceedings of the International Conference on Physics of Reactors, PHYSOR 2024
International Conference on Physics of Reactors

Analyzing neutron noise in zero power reactors is a valuable tool for gaining insights into integral parameters, such as the prompt decay constant α. This information can be used to validate codes that predict said parameters, or time-dependent behavior, particularly reactor transients. The zero-power research reactor CROCUS has been widely used for conducting noise experiments and has recently been enhanced with a new detection system, SAFFRON. This system includes an array of 150 miniature neutron detectors evenly dispersed throughout the core, allowing for 3D spatial detection capabilities. We conducted a neutron noise experiment using the 3D array to test this new system to determine the prompt decay constant α. Our results, obtained using the Rossi-α method, showed agreement with Serpent 2 Monte Carlo code (using the LLNL FREYA library for fission) predictions within 1σ of the estimated uncertainties. We notably observed that, based on previous experiments, using all 150 detectors did not achieve the levels of detection efficiency (i n co unts pe r fission) necessary to observe the fission chain decay - yet we still observe the decay with comparatively high statistical significance. We therefore show experimentally, that the spatial extent of the detection system is an important parameter in the prediction of neutron noise technique success. The results also indicate that SAFFRON is a powerful measurement tool that can be expanded for use in active perturbation experiments, 3D flux maps, and other high-fidelity reactor physics experiments.

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Type
conference paper
DOI
10.13182/PHYSOR24-43877
Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85202801108

Author(s)
Saliba, Michel  
•
Pakari, Oskari  
•
Monange, Wilfried
•
Pautz, Andreas  
•
Lamirand, Vincent  
Date Issued

2024

Publisher

American Nuclear Society

Published in
Proceedings of the International Conference on Physics of Reactors, PHYSOR 2024
ISBN of the book

9780894487972

Start page

155

End page

163

Subjects

Experimental reactor physics

•

Monte Carlo code

•

Neutron noise

•

Prompt neutron decay constant

Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LRS  
Event nameEvent acronymEvent placeEvent date
International Conference on Physics of Reactors

San Francisco, United States

2024-04-21 - 2024-04-24

Available on Infoscience
January 26, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/245081
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