Work

Measurement of reactivity of the fuel and core excess of the BTRR

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study concentrates on the measurement of fuel reactivity, reactor core excess, and fuel temperature at different power levels of the BAEC TRIGA Research Reactor. By investigating the reactor’s response to controlled power variations, this investigation shows the reactor’s dynamic behavior under various operational conditions for the BAEC TRIGA Research Reactor to operate safely and run at maximum power. The core excess reactivity at 100 W power level was found to be 7.826 $, which is within the safety limit of 10.27 $. The maximum fuel temperature of the reactor was found to be 537 °C at 3 MW reactor power. Furthermore, this study also focuses on measuring the reactivity of the fuel element by removing it from the reactor’s core. The combined change in reactivity caused by the removal of two fuel elements was also measured. The fuel reactivity at core position C2 was found to be 0.293 $. The combined change in reactivity from removing two fuel rods from core positions C2 and C4 was 1.443 $. The present study will contribute to a better understanding of the fuel reactivity with operational lifetime and to provide an experimental database for validation of the computer codes.

Source: Nuclear Engineering and Design

DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2025.114330

Authors: Absar Hanzala Sami, Albab Huzaifa Sami, Molla Md. Zubaer, Abdullah Al Mahmud, Anisur Rahman, Md. Abdul Malek Soner

Institutions: Military Institute of Science and Technology, Kyushu University, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission

Language: English

Topic: Nuclear reactor physics and engineering

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,710