Impact of the neutron detector choice on Bell and Glasstone spatial correction factor for subcriticality measurement

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 668; pp. 71 - 82
• Main Authors: Talamo, Alberto, Gohar, Y., Cao, Y., Zhong, Z., Kiyavitskaya, H., Bournos, V., Fokov, Y., Routkovskaya, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 11.03.2012
• Subjects: Assemblies; Bells; Booster; Channels; Correction factor; Detectors; Enrichment; Fuels; Materials selection; Mathematical models; MCNP; MCNPX; Yalina; Yalina; Correction factor; MCNP; MCNPX; Booster
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2011.11.072

In subcritical assemblies, the Bell and Glasstone spatial correction factor is used to correct the measured reactivity from different detector positions. In addition to the measuring position, several other parameters affect the correction factor: the detector material, the detector size, and the energy–angle distribution of source neutrons. The effective multiplication factor calculated by computer codes in criticality mode slightly differs from the average value obtained from the measurements in the different experimental channels of the subcritical assembly, which are corrected by the Bell and Glasstone spatial correction factor. Generally, this difference is due to (1) neutron counting errors; (2) geometrical imperfections, which are not simulated in the calculational model, and (3) quantities and distributions of material impurities, which are missing from the material definitions. This work examines these issues and it focuses on the detector choice and the calculation methodologies. The work investigated the YALINA Booster subcritical assembly of Belarus, which has been operated with three different fuel enrichments in the fast zone either: high (90%) and medium (36%), medium (36%), or low (21%) enriched uranium fuel.