Characterization of neutron spectrum parameters at irradiation channels for neutron activation analysis after full conversion of the Dalat nuclear research reactor to low enriched uranium fuel

Abstract

In the framework of the program on Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return (RRRFR) and the program on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactor (RERTR), the full core conversion of the Dalat Nuclear Research Reactor (DNRR) to low enriched uranium (LEU, 19.75% 235U) fuel was performed from November 24, 2011 to January 13, 2012. The reactor is now operated with a working core consisting of 92 WWR-M2 LEU. After the full core conversion, the neutron spectrum parameters which are used in k0-NAA such as thermal neutron flux (fth), fast neutron flux (ffast), f factor, alpha factor (a), and neutron temperature (Tn) have been re-characterized at four different irradiated channels in the core. Based on the experimental results, it can be seen that the thermal neutron flux decreases by 6÷9% whereas fast neutron flux increases by 2÷6%. The neutron spectrum becomes‘harder’ at most of irradiated positions. The obtained neutron spectrum parameters from this research are used to re-establish the procedures for Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) according to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard at NuclearResearch Institute.