Title :
Small, annular, double-contained 252Cf fission chamber for source-driven subcriticality measurements
Author :
Chiles, M.M. ; Mihalczo, J.T. ; Fowler, C.E.
Author_Institution :
Oak Ridge Nat. Lab., TN, USA
fDate :
8/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A small-diameter, double-contained 252Cf fission chamber design that can be inserted into a 0.95-cm (0.375-in) diameter hole or tube (such as the control rod guide tubes in pressurized water reactor (PWR) fuel elements) is described. This fission chamber can be used as a neutron driver for subcriticality measurements with irradiated PWR fuel elements. This prototype contains ~0.1 μg of 252Cf, but the design has the flexibility to accommodate larger amounts of fissionable material required for PWR tests. Details of the design are presented, as well as some of the instrument´s operational parameters and performance characteristics
Keywords :
fission reactor fuel; neutron sources; radioactive sources; 0.1 mug; 0.95 cm; 252Cf fission chamber; PWR; control rod guide tubes; design; double-contained; small-diameter; subcriticality measurements; Assembly; Coaxial components; Connectors; Electrodes; Filling; Gas insulation; Pollution measurement; Pulse amplifiers; Pulse shaping methods; Welding;
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
