New plate-type core of the IPEN/MB-01 research reactor facility for validation of RMB project

Abstract

The IPEN/MB-01 research reactor had its first criticality in November 1988 and, ever since, has been of major importance in Brazilian reactor physics researches, achieving international level for experiments comparison and validation (benchmarks). In this facility it is possible to build many different core configurations (i.e., rectangular, square and cylindrical), once versatility and flexibility were both taken into account on its initial project. The core is a fissile material assembly, inserted in a water tank, where the chain reaction is self-maintained and controlled at low power levels, so that, in normal operation, the feedback effects of temperatures are negligible. The core is intended for neutrons simulation of light water moderated reactors allowing the experimental verification of the calculation methods, reactor cell and mesh structures, control rods effectiveness, isothermal reactivity coefficients and core dynamics due to reactivity insertions. The first standard IPEN/MB-01 core had UO2 rod-type fuel, 4.3 % enriched in U-235 and using B4C and Ag-In-Cd rods for safety and control of the reactor. The facility is located at IPEN/CNEN-SP (Nuclear and Energy Research Institute), in Sao Paulo - Brazil. Within the scope of the new research reactor project, the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor (RMB), it was designed a new critical configuration for the IPEN/MB-01. After thirty years of work, the rod-type fuels were replaced by plate-type fuels, in order to validate the RMB calculation methodologies, as well as the nuclear data libraries used. The RMB is an open pool-type reactor with maximum power of 30 MW, being the core a 5x5 configuration, consisting of 23 fuel elements, made of U3Si2-Al, having a medium density of 3.7 gU/cm3 and 19.75% enriched in U-235, and two positions available in the core for materials irradiation devices. The production of radioisotopes, silicon doping, neutron activation analysis, nuclear fuels and structural materials testing and the development of scientific and technological research using neutron beams are the main targets of the RMB enterprise. The new IPEN/MB-01 core has a 4×5 configuration, having 19 fuel elements, consisting of U3Si2-Al, 2.8 gU/cm³ and 19.75% enriched in U-235, plus one aluminum block. The IPEN/MB-01 new plate-type fuel assembly uses Cadmium wires as burnable poison, as the one used in RMB core for controlling the core power density and excess of reactivity during its operation. The core is also reflected by 4 boxes of heavy water (D2O), inserted in a moderator tank of light water. The maximum nominal power is 100 W and, for a safe operation, the critical assembly has both safety and auxiliaries’ systems. This paper presents a description of the new core and the principal neutronic parameters. The new core of the IPEN/MB-01 will be certainly a world class benchmark core for the core physics calculation of research reactors.