ANSTO :: Browsing by Author "Pouchin, B"

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Neutronics core optimisation of the Jules Horowitz Reactor
(European Nuclear Society, 2012-03-18) Wong, L; Pouchin, B
The Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR) is a materials testing reactor currently under construction at the Cadarache site of the Commissariat a l‘Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA). Within the reactor core, it is envisaged that experimental devices will be placed within the vacant positions in the core rack for irradiation under fast flux. Thus, the current configuration of the core has been optimised for a hard neutron spectrum. However, depending on the experimental device loading in the core, this fast flux optimisation in the core may not be necessary. Instead, in this situation, it is more economical to thermalise the flux and increase the cycle duration. A neutronics study using TRIPOLI-4 was performed to locate positions within the JHR core in which neutron moderating materials, beryllium or water, could be placed, in order to increase the reactivity in the core. These positions include the experimental device positions at the centre of the fuel assembly, and interassembly or outer periphery positions which are currently designated to be filled by aluminium cylinders. The impact of these materials on the experimental device performance within the core and in the reflector and the flux distribution within the core was analysed. Operating cycle gains of several full power days were identified.