JSI TRIGA fuel rod reactivity worth experiments for validation of Serpent-2 and RAPID fuel burnup calculations

• DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2024.03.041
• Publication Date: 2024-04-02T06:46:20Z
• Authors: Anže Pungerčič; Alireza Haghighat; Luka Snoj
• Keywords: Burnup; TRIGA; Rod; Control rod; Nuclear data

Reactivity worth of fuel rods at the JSI TRIGA research reactor was measured. Differently burned were chosen to validate burnup calculations. Two methods measuring reactivity are used, traditional method is compared newly introduced using swapping. Connection between both described theoretically and theory validated experimentally. Fuel rod calculated swap within 1σ measured method. In addition recently performed experiments, weekly measurements core throughout operational history used for validation. The data criticality calculations three different computer codes: deterministic TRIGLAV, Monte Carlo Serpent-2, hybrid RAPID. Great agreement observed Serpent-2 RAPID by simulating its burnup, indicating that accurate changes due small differences on order 10 pcm can be accurately simulated. it shown ex-core detectors large fission chamber detector response swapping evident 20 MWd/kg. further excess mixed cores. coefficient ΔρBU measurements, showing codes capable calculating types.