The behavior of reactor power and flux resulting from changes in core-coolant temperature for a miniature neutron source reactor

• Published in: Annals of nuclear energy Vol. 35; no. 12; pp. 2417 - 2419
• Main Authors: Ahmed, Y.A., Balogun, G.I., Jonah, S.A., Funtua, I.I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2008
• ISSN: 0306-4549; 1873-2100
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2008.08.005

In this work, measurements were performed to verify the theoretical predictions of reactor power and flux parameters that result from changes in core inlet temperature (
T
in) and the temperature difference between the coolant inlet and outlet (Δ
T) in the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1), which is a Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR). The measured data shows that there is a strong dependence of the reactor power on coolant temperature in agreement with the design of MNSR. The experimental parameters were found to be in good agreement with data obtained using a semi-empirical relationship between the reactor power, flux parameters, core inlet temperature, and the coolant temperature rise. The relationship was therefore used to predict the power level of NIRR-1 from its neutron flux parameters to which it has been found to be proportional. The variation of
T
in and Δ
T with the reactor power and flux was also investigated and the results obtained are hereby discussed.