Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2004 International RERTR Meeting

FLUX ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS FOR AN LEU-FUELED MIT REACTOR

Thomas H. Newton, Jr., Edward E. Pilat, and Mujid S. Kazimi
Nuclear Reactor Laboratory and Nuclear Engineering Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 138 Albany St. Cambridge, MA 02139

ABSTRACT
 

The Monte-Carlo transport code MCNP was used to evaluate possible arrangements of cores for the MIT Reactor using monolithic LEU fuel. Plate and moderator thicknesses were varied, and fixed absorbers and inner reflectors added in an effort to maximize available neutron fluxes at in-core and ex-core locations of experimental facilities. Addition of D2O in the H2O moderator was also evaluated. Comparisons of the fast, epithermal, and thermal fluxes were made at selected locations. Keff was also evaluated and critical blade heights compared with the existing HEU core. Results indicate that the LEU fluxes could approach HEU values with the use of a fueled in-core experimental facility, a fixed boron absorber spider and an inner beryllium reflector.

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