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CZECH TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE
STUDY PLANS
2023/2024
UPOZORNĚNÍ: Jsou dostupné studijní plány pro následující akademický rok.

Reactor Experiments

The course is not on the list Without time-table
Code Completion Credits Range Language
17REPR KZ 5 2+2 Czech
Garant předmětu:
Lecturer:
Tutor:
Supervisor:
Department of Nuclear Reactors
Synopsis:

The course is focused on experimental neutron and reactor physics. The first part of the course is focused on experimental neutron physics, namely characterisation of neutron properties, characteristics of neutron (reactor and non reactor) sources, properties of prompt and delayed neutrons, neutron detection methods, and neutron induced nuclear reactions. The second part of the course is focused on experimental reactor physics, namely experimental methods focused on reactivity measurement, determination of control rod characteristics in the nuclear reactor, dynamics study of nuclear reactor and critical experiment. Theoretical lectures are followed by experiments at Training reactor VR-1 and at Neutron laboratory, both operated by Department of nuclear reactors.

Requirements:

17ZAF, 17PSJR

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Research nuclear reactors

Duration: 1 lecture

Topic:

Experimental methods of nuclear reactor physics, classification of nuclear facilities and research reactors, classification, parameters and utilisation of research reactors in the field of experimental reactor physics

2. Experimental data processing and analysis

Duration: 1 lecture

Topic:

Experimental data processing, definition and separation of measurement errors and uncertainties, mean value, variation and standard deviation, error propagation, determination of errors from direct and indirect measurement values, analysis, evaluation and presentation of experimental data

3. Neutron sources and their properties, neutron sources

Duration: 2 lectures

Topics:

Discovery of the neutron and history of experimental neutron physics, the properties of the neutron and their experimental research (neutron mass, neutron lifetime and decay, neutron energy and wavelength, neutron charge, neutron spin and magnetic moment)

Reactor and non reactor neutron sources, types and characterisation of nuclear research reactors as a neutron source, characterisation and properties (intensity and energy range) of non reactor neutron sources, overview and description of radionuclide sources, radionuclide sources calibration, neutron generators, system of accelerator an target as a neutron source

4. Prompt and delayed neutrons

Duration: 1 lecture

Topic:

Origin of prompt neutrons and their properties, origin and importance of delayed neutrons, the properties of delayed neutrons, experimental determination of delayed neutron properties, delayed neutrons and its utilisation in experiments and research.

5. Neutron detection

Duration: 1 lecture

Topic:

General principles in particle detection, possibilities and methods of neutron detection, proton-recoil methods, methods based on neutron-nuclear reactions, overview and properties of neutron detectors (ionisation chamber, semiconductor detectors, scintillation detectors, thermo luminescent detectors), neutron spectrometry.

6. Neutron-nucleus interactions

Duration: 1 lecture

Topic:

Overview and characterisation of neutron interactions with matter, forces between neutrons and particles, neutron-nucleus interactions, neutron cross-sections, elastic and inelastic scattering, radiative capture, fission, neutron-nuclear interaction attended by nucleon emission.

7. Reactivity measurement in nuclear reactors

Duration: 1 lecture

Topic:

Static and dynamics techniques for reactivity determination, source multiplication method, Source-jerk method, Rod-drop method, positive period method, inverse kinetic method

8. Determination of control rod characteristics in the nuclear reactor

Duration: 1 lecture

Topic:

Integral and differential control rod worth, control rod worth, methods focused on determination of control rod characteristics: inverse rate method and source multiplication method, control rods inter-calibration

9. Approaching criticality, critical experiment

Duration: 2 lectures

Topics:

Legislative requirements of State office for nuclear safety for basic critical experiment realisation, basic requirements for core configurations in VR-1 reactor

Design of VR-1 reactor core configuration, neutron-physical characteristics of VR-1 reactor core and their determination

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Neutron detection in VR-1 reactor core

Duration: 2 exercises

Topics:

Basic parameters and set up of neutron detection system, determination of neutron detection system linearity and its nonlinearity correction, measurement of neutron flux distribution in VR-1 reactor core by small gas filled detectors

2. Delayed neutrons detection at VR-1 rector

Duration: 2 exercises

Topics:

Parameters of device for delayed neutrons detection at VR-1 rector, detection of delayed neutrons emitted by irradiated fissionable material and determination of their basic properties, determination of fissionable material mass using delayed neutron counting method

3. Study of neutron diffusion

Duration: 2 exercises

Topics:

Study of neutron diffusion in graphite and water, measurement of neutrons distribution emitted by neutron source in graphite prism and water bath, determination of neutron diffusion length for graphite and water

4. Reactivity measurement at VR-1 reactor

Duration: 2 exercises

Topics:

Source-jerk, Rod-drop and positive period method application on reactivity measurement at VR-1 reactor

5. Control rod calibration at VR-1 reactor

Duration: 2 exercises

Topics:

Determination of control rod worth and its calibration curve in VR-1 reactor by inverse rate method and source multiplication method, control rods inter-calibration in VR-1 reactor

6. Approaching the critical state at VR-1 reactor

Duration: 2 exercises

Topics:

Prediction of unknown critical state at VR-1 reactor by inverse rate method, approaching the critical state at VR-1 reactor by gradual change of control rod position

7. Students' experiments? works evaluation

Duration: 1 lecture

Topic:

Students' experiments works, evaluation and discussion with the lecturer

Study Objective:

An overview of neutron properties and its interaction, knowledge of experimental methods using neutrons, experimental reactor physics, knowledge and assumption of method focused on determination of basic neutron-physical and operational parameters in nuclear reactors

Application of acquired knowledge to solve problems, qualification and quantification of the effects of various physical quantities and phenomena on the operation of nuclear reactors and nuclear safety, ability of preparation and realisation of experimental works, processing of experimental values and its analysis and interpretation

Study materials:

Key references:

Paul Reuss: Neutron Physics, EDP Sciences, 2008, France, ISBN: 978-2-7598-0041-4

Liyuan Liang, Romano Rinaldi, Helmut Schober: Neutron Applications in Earth, Energy and Envirinmental Sciences, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009, ISBN 978-0-387-09415-1

Weston M. Stacey: Nuclear Reactor Physics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York 2001, ISBN 0-471-39127-1

Recommended references:

Tatjana Jevremovic: Nuclear Principles in Engineering, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009, ISBN 978-0-387-85607-0

Lewis E.,E.: Fundamentals of Nuclear Reactor Physics, Elsevier Inc., USA 2008, ISBN: 978-0-12-370631-7

Media and tools:

Training reactor VR-1 and Neutron laboratory at Department o nuclear reactors

Note:
Further information:
No time-table has been prepared for this course
The course is a part of the following study plans:
Data valid to 2024-03-27
Aktualizace výše uvedených informací naleznete na adrese https://bilakniha.cvut.cz/en/predmet24914005.html