Research Article, J Nucl Ene Sci Power Generat Technol Vol: 2 Issue: 1
Design Options of Control Rod for Low Enriched Uranium Fueled NIRR-1 Using Monte Carlo N-Particle Code
| Ibrahim YV1*, Odoi HC2, Thomas JW3 and Jonah SA1 | |
| 1Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria | |
| 2School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana | |
| 3Nuclear Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, USA | |
| Corresponding author : Ibrahim YV Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria Tel: +234-8059464276; E-mail: yakubviva@yahoo.com |
|
| Received: November 27, 2012 Accepted: February 04, 2013 Published: February 11, 2013 | |
| Citation: Ibrahim YV, Odoi HC, Thomas JW, Jonah SA (2013) Design Options of Control Rod for Low Enriched Uranium Fueled NIRR-1 Using Monte Carlo N-Particle Code. J Nucl Ene Sci Power Generat Technol 2:1. doi:10.4172/2325-9809.1000104 |
Abstract
Design Options of Control Rod for Low Enriched Uranium Fueled NIRR-1 Using Monte Carlo N-Particle Code
NIRR-1 like other Commercial MNSRs has single control rod performing all safety functions. Feasibility studies have shown that UO2 fuel enriched to 12.5% can be used for the conversion of MNSRs to LEU. However, this conversion would require modification to the single control rod to maintain same safety margins as the current HEU core. Consequently, the MCNP Code was used to design 3 variants of control rod for proposed LEU Core. Since the main objective of conversion is simply to propose replacing the existing HEU core, the control rods were designed to fit into the existing core configuration. Neutronics calculations for the third case indicate that the shutdown margin and safety reactivity factor are equal to or greater than the data for the current HEU core.
