TY - JOUR
T1 - Simulated Performance of the Micro-Pocket Fission Detector in the Advanced Test Reactor Critical Facility
AU - Nichols, Daniel M.
AU - Reichenberger, Michael A.
AU - Maile, Andrew D.
AU - Holtz, Mary R.
AU - McGregor, Douglas S.
AU - Maile, Andrew
AU - Holtz, Mary
N1 - Funding Information:
This paper discusses ongoing work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy under Idaho Operations Office contract DE-AC07-05ID14517. This information was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the U.S. government. Neither the U.S. government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness, of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. References herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U.S. government or any agency thereof. Special thanks to Dr. Jeremy Roberts for discussions that aided in the progress of this research.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Nuclear Society.
PY - 2021/4/12
Y1 - 2021/4/12
N2 - The Micro-Pocket Fission Detector (MPFD) is a small-form-factor real-time fission chamber. MPFD performance has been simulated in the Advanced Test Reactor Critical Facility located at Idaho National Laboratory. The neutron and gamma-ray flux profiles and magnitudes were simulated using MCNP in the near-core B-8 irradiation position. These simulations were performed at 69 discrete axial locations inside the B-8 position 55 for three separate orientations of the nearby hafnium outer shim control cylinders and at a power level of 700 W(thermal). The resulting neutron and gamma-ray flux values were used to determine the MPFD response for various fissile masses and detector gas pressures. The optimal gas-operating pressure was determined to be between 30 and 60 psig. The required fissile layer mass was determined to be between 0.5 to 1.0 µg of 235U. Additionally, the gamma ray to fission fragment interaction rate was determined to be 1.43 × 103 with average energy deposition for gamma rays and fission fragments in 30 psig argon gas to be 1 keV and 3.5 MeV, respectively.
AB - The Micro-Pocket Fission Detector (MPFD) is a small-form-factor real-time fission chamber. MPFD performance has been simulated in the Advanced Test Reactor Critical Facility located at Idaho National Laboratory. The neutron and gamma-ray flux profiles and magnitudes were simulated using MCNP in the near-core B-8 irradiation position. These simulations were performed at 69 discrete axial locations inside the B-8 position 55 for three separate orientations of the nearby hafnium outer shim control cylinders and at a power level of 700 W(thermal). The resulting neutron and gamma-ray flux values were used to determine the MPFD response for various fissile masses and detector gas pressures. The optimal gas-operating pressure was determined to be between 30 and 60 psig. The required fissile layer mass was determined to be between 0.5 to 1.0 µg of 235U. Additionally, the gamma ray to fission fragment interaction rate was determined to be 1.43 × 103 with average energy deposition for gamma rays and fission fragments in 30 psig argon gas to be 1 keV and 3.5 MeV, respectively.
KW - MPFD
KW - Micro-pocket fission detector
KW - detector sensitivity simulations
KW - in-core flux monitoring
KW - reactor instrumentation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104290152&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00295639.2021.1898922
DO - 10.1080/00295639.2021.1898922
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85104290152
SN - 0029-5639
VL - 195
SP - 1098
EP - 1106
JO - Nuclear Science and Engineering
JF - Nuclear Science and Engineering
IS - 10
ER -