• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 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
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.13-22
• /
• 1994

CANDU 6 중수형 원자로 운전중에 Calandria Shell내에서 발생하는 $(n,\;{\gamma})$ 반응유발 열중성자속분포와 CANDU 6 발전소의 측면 및 하단 차폐구조에서의 방사선 선량률을 계산하기 위하여 몬테칼로 방법을 이용한 MCNP 4.2 코드를 사용하였다. 계산결과, Mainshell, Annular Plate와 Subshell내 의 열중성자속분포는 $10^{11}{\sim}10^{13}\;neutrons/cm^2-sec$로 나타났고, 이는 DOT 4.2 코드의 계산결과와 비교해 볼 때 약간 큰 값들의 분포를 보여주고 있다. 이 계산결과의 응용으로서 작업자 접근가능지역 (Worker Accessible Areas)에서의 감마선량률을 계산해본 결과 설계목표치인 $6{\mu}Sv/h$보다 낮은 값을 주는 것으로 나타났다. $(n,\;{\gamma})$ 반응유발 열중성자속분포에 대한 MCNP 4.2 코드의 계산결과는 CANDU 6형 원자로의 방사선 차폐해석에 중요한 자료로 널리 이용될 수 있을 것이다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제54권11호
• /
• pp.4226-4230
• /
• 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
• /
• 제48권3호
• /
• pp.751-757
• /
• 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
• /
• 제52권3호
• /
• pp.499-507
• /
• 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
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.55-60
• /
• 2005

SMART 연구로의 노외계측기 설계를 위하여 고온 전출력 조건과 중성자 계수율이 최소가 되는 조건에 대해서 중성자속 분포 평가를 수행하였다. 고온 전출력 조건에서 IST 영역의 에너지 구간별 중성자속 분포 계산은 DORT와 MCNP코드를 이용하였으며, 계산 결과 IST 내의 첫 번째 물 영역에서 최대의 열중성자속을 보였고 두 코드 결과는 대략 10% 이내에서 일치하는 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 중성자 계수율이 최소가 되는 조건에서 노외계측기 설치 영역에서의 중성자속을 계산한 결과, 선원의 세기가 $1.0{\times}10^8(n/sec)$이라고 가정한 경우 최대 열중성자속의 크기는 $6.99{\times}10^{-2}(n/cm^2-sec)$로 전체 중성자속의 80% 이상을 차지하는 것으로 나타났는데 이는 IST 철 구조물을 통과한 속중성자가 감속능이 큰 물 영역에서 에너지를 잃고 열중성자로 변하였기 때문이다. 그러므로 노외계측기 설계시 계측기를 둘러싸는 계측기 안내관 충전물질, 설치위치 그리고 각 계측기 Segment들의 길이 등을 최적화하여 중성자 계수율을 증가시키는 방안을 모색할 필요가 있겠으며, 이러한 중성자속 평가 결과는 노외계측기가 IST 영역에 설치될 경우 노외계측기 선속 요건으로 이용될 수 있다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제5권4호
• /
• pp.334-338
• /
• 1973

$^{232}$ Th 핵분열 물질과 조합된 고체비적검출체를 사용하여 250kw로 정상운전되는 TRIGA Mark-II 원자로의 대차폐수조내에서 열중성자주(thermalizing column)의 중심으로부터 수평방향의 속 중성자 선속밀도 분포를 추정하였다. 속 중성자 스펙트럼이 $^{235}$ U가 열 중성자에 의하여 핵분열이 일어날매 방출되는 중성자 스펙트럼과 같다는 가정을 한 다음, 선속밀도는 고쳬비적검출체로 얻어진 실험 결과로부터 계산되었다. 이와 같은 방법으로 속 중성자 설속밀도 분포의 측정 결과는 도표로서 제시된다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권11호
• /
• pp.3996-4001
• /
• 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
• /
• 제54권1호
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 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
• /
• 제53권6호
• /
• pp.1970-1978
• /
• 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.