Measurement of the Syrian MNSR delayed neutron fraction and neutron generation time by noise analysis

Delayed neutron fraction β and prompt neutron generation time Λ were determined for the Miniature Neutron Source Reactor of Syria using noise analysis technique. Small reactivity perturbations, step-wise and impulse in time, were introduced into the reactor at low power level i.e. zero-power. Power and reactivity versus time were obtained. Using the generalized least square algorithm and transfer function analysis, measurement of both the delayed neutron fraction and the neutron generation time were made. The MNSR values obtained for the prompt neutron generation time and delayed neutron fraction are 78.3±1.3 μs and 7.94±0.11×10−3 respectively. Both measured values of β and Λ were found to be very consistent with previously measured and calculated ones reported in the Safety Analysis Report.