• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2004

In-phantom neutron flux distribution is measured at the HANARO BNCT irradiation facility. The measurements are performed with Au foil and wires. The thermal neutron flux and Cd ratio obtained at the HANARO BNCT facility are $1.19{\times}10^9\;n/cm^{2}s$ and 152, respectively, at 24 MW reactor power. The measured in-phantom neutron flux has a maximum value at a depth of 3 mm in the phantom and then decreases rapidly. The maximum flux is about $25\%$ larger than that of the phantom surface, and the measured value at a depth of 22 mm in the phantom is about a half of the maximum value. In addition, the neutron beam is limited well within the aperture of the neutron collimator. The two-dimensional in-phantom neutron flux distribution is determined. Significant neutron irradiation is observed within 20 mm from the phantom surface. The measured neutron flux distribution can be utilized in irradiation planning for a patient.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 1994

The MCNP 4.2 code was used to calculate the thermal neutron flux distributions for $(n,\;{\gamma})$reaction in mainshell, annular plate, and subshell of the calandria of a CANDU 6 plant during operation. The thermal neutron flux distributions in calandria mainshell, annular plate, and subshell were in the range of $10^{11}{\sim}10^{13}\;neutrons/cm^2-sec$ which is somewhat higher than the previous estimates calculated by DOT 4.2 code. As an application to shielding analysis, photon dose rates outside the side and bottom shields were calculated. The resulting dose rates at the reactor accessible areas were below design target, $6 {\mu}Sv/h$. The methodology used in this study to evaluate the thermal neutron flux distribution for $(n,\;{\gamma})reaction$ can be applied to radiation shielding analysis of CANDU 6 type plants.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4226-4230
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• 2022

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has designed a Hybrid-Low Power Research Reactor (H-LPRR) which can be used for critical assembly and conventional research reactor as well. It is an open tank-in-pool type research reactor (Thermal Power: 50 kW_th) of which the most important applications are Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), Radioisotope (RI) production, education and training. There are eight irradiation holes on the edge of the reactor core: IR (6 holes for RI production) and NA (2 holes for NAA) holes. In order to quantify the elemental concentration in target samples through the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), it is necessary to measure neutron spectrum parameters such as thermal neutron flux, the deviation from the ideal 1/E epithermal neutron flux distribution (α), and the thermal-to-epithermal neutron flux ratio (f) for the irradiation holes. In this study, the MCNP6.1 code and FORTRAN 90 language are applied to determine the parameters for the two irradiation holes (NA-SW and NA-NW) in H-LPRR, and in particular its α and f parameters are compared to values of other research reactors. The results confirmed that the neutron irradiation holes in H-LPRR are designed to be sufficiently applied to neutron activation analysis, and its performance is comparable to that of foreign research reactors including the TRIGA MARK II.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.751-757
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• 2016

The present work discusses two different models of boiling water reactor (BWR) bundle to compare the neutronic characteristics of uranium dioxide ($UO_2$) and uranium zirconium hydride ($UZrH_{1.6}$) fuel. Each bundle consists of four assemblies. The BWR assembly fueled with $UO_2$ contains $8{\times}8$ fuel rods while that fueled with $UZrH_{1.6}$ contains $9{\times}9$ fuel rods. The Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code, based on the Mont Carlo method, is used to design three dimensional models for BWR fuel bundles at typical operating temperatures and pressure conditions. These models are used to determine the multiplication factor, pin-by-pin power distribution, axial power distribution, thermal neutron flux distribution, and axial thermal neutron flux. The moderator and coolant (water) are permitted to boil within the BWR core forming steam bubbles, so it is important to calculate the reactivity effect of voiding at different values. It is found that the hydride fuel bundle design can be simplified by eliminating water rods and replacing the control blade with control rods. $UZrH_{1.6}$ fuel improves the performance of the BWR in different ways such as increasing the energy extracted per fuel assembly, reducing the uranium ore, and reducing the plutonium accumulated in the BWR through burnup.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.499-507
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• 2020

Research reactors for radioisotope production, fuel and material testing and research activities are designed, constructed and operated based on the society's needs. In this study, neutronic and thermal hydraulic design of a high neutron flux research reactor core for radioisotope production is presented. Main parameters including core excess reactivity, reactivity variations, power and flux distribution during the cycle, axial and radial power peaking factors (PPF), Pu₂₃₉ production and minimum DNBR are calculated by nuclear deterministic codes. Core calculations performed by deterministic codes are validated with Monte Carlo code. Comparison of the neutronic parameters obtained from deterministic and Monte Carlo codes indicates good agreement. Finally, subchannel analysis performed for the hot channel to evaluate the maximum fuel and clad temperatures. The results show that the average thermal neutron flux at the beginning of cycle (BOC) is 1.0811 × 10¹⁴ n/㎠-s and at the end of cycle (EOC) is 1.229 × 10¹⁴ n/㎠-s. Total Plutonium (Pu₂₃₉) production at the EOC evaluated to be 0.9487 Kg with 83.64% grade when LEU (UO₂ with 3.7% enrichment) used as fuel. This designed reactor which uses LEU fuel and has high neutron flux and low plutonium production could be used for peaceful nuclear activities based on nuclear non-proliferation treaty concepts.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2005

The evaluation of neutron flux distribution was performed for the ex-core detector design of SMART-P. DORT and MCNP code were used for the calculation of energy-dependent neutron flux distribution at 100% full power condition. Two code results show that maximum thermal flux appears at the $1^{st}$ water region in IST region and agree within 10% difference. In addition, another evaluation was performed code with assumptions that cote was composed of fission source and control rod without fuel assemblies. These assumptions make neutron count rate to be minimized. As a results, maximum thermal flux showed $6.99{\times}10^{-2}(n/cm^2-sec)$, when the strength of initial fission source was assumed as $1.0{\times}10^8(n/sec)$. The main reason of these results is due to the thermalization of fast neutrons in the water region and thermal flux is proportional to 80% of total neutron flux. Therefore, optimization of filler material of detector guide tube, position of installation and axial length of detector segments is necessary for the design of ex-core detector to enhance the neutron count rate and above results could be used in ex-core detector design as a fluence requirement.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.334-338
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• 1973

The horizontal distribution of the fast neutron flux density in the Bulk Shielding Experimental Tank of the TRIGA Mark-II reactor at the steady power of 250 KW has been measured using a solid state track detector which is natural mica placed in contact with $^{232}$ Th fissile foil. The neutron flux density was calculated on the assumption that the fast neutron spectrum is similar to that from the thermal-induced $^{235}$ U fission. The resulting flux density distribution along the horizontal line from the center of the thermalizing column door is presented in tabular and graphical forms.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.3996-4001
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• 2023

The High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor (HANARO) produces radioisotopes (RIs) (¹³¹I, ¹⁹²Ir, etc.) through neutron irradiation on various RI production targets. Among them, ¹⁷⁷Lu and ¹⁶⁶Ho are particularly promising owing to their theranostic characteristics that facilitate simultaneous diagnosis and treatment. Prior to neutron irradiation, evaluating the nuclear heating of the RI production target is essential for ensuring the thermal-hydraulic safety of HANARO. In this study, the feasibility of producing ¹⁷⁷Lu and ¹⁶⁶Ho using irradiation holes of HANARO was investigated in terms of thermal-hydraulic safety. The nuclear heating rates of the RI production target by prompt and delayed radiation were calculated using MCNP6. The calculated nuclear heating rates were used as an input parameter in COMSOL Multiphysics to obtain the temperature distribution in an irradiation hole. The degree of temperature increase of the ¹⁷⁷Lu and ¹⁶⁶Ho production targets satisfied the safety criteria of HANARO. The nuclear heating rates and temperature distribution obtained through the in silico study are expected to provide valuable insight into the production of ¹⁷⁷Lu and ¹⁶⁶Ho using HANARO.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

This study discusses the effect of using ²³²Th instead of ²³⁸U on the neutronic characteristics and the main operating parameters of the pressurized water reactor (PWR). MCNPX version 2.7 was used to compare the neutronic characteristics of UO₂ with (Th, ²³⁵U)O₂ and (Th, ²³³U) O₂. Firstly, the infinity multiplication factor (K_inf), thermal neutron flux, and power distribution have been studied for the investigated fuel types. Secondly, the effect of Gd₂O₃ and Er₂O₃ on the K_inf and on the radial thermal neutron flux and thermal power has been investigated to distinguish which of them is more suitable than the other in reactivity management. Thirdly, to illustrate the effectiveness of ²³²Th in decreasing the inventory of both the actinides and non-actinides, the concentration of plutonium (Pu) isotopes and minor actinides (MAs) has been simulated with the fuel burnup. Besides, due to their large thermal neutron absorption cross-section, the concentrations of ¹³⁵Xe, ¹⁴⁹Sm, and ¹⁵¹Sm with the fuel burnup have been investigated. Finally, the main safety parameters such as the reactivity worth of the control rods (ρ_CR), the effective delayed neutron fraction β_eff, and the Doppler reactivity coefficient (DRC) were calculated to determine to which extent these fuel types achieve the acceptable limits.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.1970-1978
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• 2021

The aim of this study was to optimize the target, moderator, and collimator (TMC) in a neutron beam generator for the accelerator-based BNCT (A-BNCT) system. The optimization employed the Monte Carlo Neutron and Photon (MCNP) simulation. The optimal geometry for the target was decided as the one with the highest neutron flux among nominates, which were called as angled, rib, and tube in this study. The moderator was optimized in terms of consisting material to produce appropriate neutron energy distribution for the treatment. The optimization of the collimator, which wrapped around the target, was carried out by deciding the material to effectively prevent the leakage radiations. As results, characteristic of the neutron beam from the optimized TMC was compared to the recommendation by the International Atomic Energy Agent (IAEA). The tube type target showed the highest neutron flux among nominates. The optimal material for the moderator and collimator were combination of Fluental (Al₂0₃+AlF₃) with ⁶⁰Ni filter and lead, respectively. The optimized TMC satisfied the IAEA recommendations such as the minimum production rate of epithermal neutrons from thermal neutrons: that was 2.5 times higher. The results can be used as source terms for shielding designs of treatment rooms.