Effect of Reactor Fuel Enrichment on Gamma Heating of Irradiated Samples

• Published in: IEEE transactions on nuclear science Vol. 56; no. 6; pp. 3764 - 3767
• Main Authors: Varvayanni, M., Savva, P., Catsaros, N., Antonopoulos-Domis, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.12.2009; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Assembly; Core conversion; Deposition; dose built-up; Enriched fuel reactors; Enrichment; Fuels; gamma heating processes; Gamma rays; Heating; Inductors; Iron; Irradiation; Materials testing; Nuclear engineering; Nuclear research reactors; Numerical simulation; Protection; Radiation safety; reactor safety
• ISSN: 0018-9499; 1558-1578
• DOI: 10.1109/TNS.2009.2033912

Assessment of the gamma heating deposited on samples irradiated in material testing reactors is basic safety issue. The GHRRC (Gamma Heating in Research Reactor Cores) code developed in NCSR ¿Demokritos¿ is used here to estimate the relative importance of the mechanisms contributing to the total gamma heating of the irradiated material, for a core fuelled with Low (LEU) and with High Enrichment Uranium (HEU). The Greek Research Reactor core configuration with a 13% burnup has been assumed for the numerical experiments. The gamma heating of a Fe sample irradiated near the core center is examined. The heating components due to fission gammas, capture gammas and gamma dose build-up in the core are compared with respect to the fuel enrichment. Although individual components are found higher either in the LEU or in the HEU core, the total gamma heating is found comparable for the two fuel enrichments.