SEDL / STP / STP1490-EB / STP45430S

Characterization of the Neutron Field in the HSSI Reusable Irradiation Facility at the Ford Nuclear Reactor

Remec, Igor
S&T Staff Member, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Rosseel, Thomas M.
Manager, Heavy-Section Steel Irradiation (HSSI) Program, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Blakeman, Edward D.
S&T Staff Member, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Baldwin, Charles A.
S&T Staff Member, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Heatherly, Dennis W.
S&T Staff Member, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Thoms, Kenneth R.
Subcontractor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

Pages: 8    Published: Jan 2007

Download this paper for $25 PDF (504K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

The characterization of the neutron environment in a reusable facility for irradiation of metallurgical specimens, located at the Ford Nuclear reactor in Michigan, was performed with a combination of transport calculations, extensive dosimeter measurements, and neutron spectrum adjustment. The average difference between the calculated and “measured” reaction rates was ̃7 & (the calculations underpredicted the measurements), and the average absolute difference was ̃10 &. Therefore, the calculations and measurements agreed very well. The flexible facility performed excellently during several years of operation but was discontinued when the Ford reactor ceased operation. The heavy-section steel irradiation (HSSI) program is taking the initial steps toward selecting a site for a new irradiation facility, similar to the one described here.