Buckling and integral spectrum measurements in U233/BeO sub-critical assemblies

Abstract

The materials buckling of three BeO moderated U233 oxide fuelled systems having BeO/U233 ratios of 6496, 4331, and 3248 have been measured by the exponential method. Relative fission rates of U233, U235, and Pu239 were also measured in the equilibrium spectrum region of the same assemblies. Because of the heterogeneous nature of the assembly, fine structure corrections have been applied. Some calculations using the CRAM Diffusion Code have been included.