Measurements of Delayed Neutron Parameters for U-235 and Np-237

Measurements of Delayed Neutron Parameters for U-235 and Np-237
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Total Pages: 134
Release: 1997
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Delayed neutrons are emitted by excited nuclei formed in beta decay of fission products called delayed neutron precursors. About 1% of the total neutrons released in fission are delayed neutrons; however, this small fraction plays an important role in nuclear reactor control. The delayed neutrons determine the time-dependent behavior of reactors, and knowledge of parameters used to predict neutron emission rate is essential for establishing reactivity worths. The delayed neutron yields, decay constants, and the absolute yield for the six-group delayed neutrons have been measured for U-235 and Np-237. This experiment has been called for in the forecast of experiments needed to support operations in the US. The bare U-235 metal assembly Godiva IV at the Los Alamos Critical Experiment Facility (LACEF) provided the source of neutrons. Godiva IV generated about 107 total fissions in the samples for the infinite and instantaneous irradiation needed to accentuate the shorter and longer-lived groups of delayed neutrons. The detection system used in the experiment consisted of 20 He-3 tubes embedded in a polyethylene cylinder. The delayed neutron activity resulting from the fast neutron-induced fission has been measured. The measured absolute yield for U-235 was determined to be 0.0163 " 0.009 neutrons/fission. This value compares very well with the well-established Keepin absolute yield of 0.0165 " 0.0005. The newly measured absolute yield value for Np-237 was 0.0126 " 0.0007, which compares well to the recently reported value of 0.0129 " 0.0004 by Saleh and Parish. The measured values for U-235 are corroborated with period (e-folding time) versus reactivity calculations.

Measured Delayed Neutron Spectra from the Fission of U-235 and Np-237

Measured Delayed Neutron Spectra from the Fission of U-235 and Np-237
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Total Pages: 3
Release: 1998
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Texas A & M University, in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory / the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, have been actively studying the delayed neutron emission characteristics of the higher actinide isotopes for several years. 1-3 Recently, a proton recoil detector system was designed, built, and characterized for use in measuring delayed neutron energy spectra following neutron induced fission. The system has been used to measure aggregate delayed neutron energy spectra from neutron induced fission of U-235 and Np-237. These spectra have also been compared to that calculated using individual precursor P, values, yields, and spectra from the ENDF/B-VI file. A proton recoil detector array consisting of three LND Model 28305 high- -pressure proton recoil detectors has been constructed at the Texas A & M University Nuclear Science Center. The array was characterized using several neutron and gamma- ray sources to check for efficiency, gamma-ray response, and reliability of the unfolding techniques. Resultant measured proton recoil distributions were unfolded using a modified version of the spectrum unfolding code PSNS (the new code was renamed SAC). SAC used response functions calculated using MCNP 4A. This feature allowed the inclusion of several inches of lead between the detector and the source to decrease the detector's sensitivity to gamma-rays, while appropriately accounting for the effect on the transmitted neutron spectrum. Following proper calibration of the array, highly-purified sources of U-235 were irradiated in the Nuclear Science Center Reactor (NSCR) at a power of 1 MW for 200.

Delayed Neutron Emission Measurements for U-235 and Pu-239

Delayed Neutron Emission Measurements for U-235 and Pu-239
Author: Yong Chen
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Total Pages:
Release: 2010
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ISBN:

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The delayed neutron emission rates of U-235 and Pu-239 samples were measured accurately from a thermal fission reaction. A Monte Carlo calculation using the Geant4 code was used to demonstrate the neutron energy independence of the detector used in the counting station. A set of highly purified actinide samples (U-235 and Pu-239) was irradiated in these experiments by using the Texas A & M University Nuclear Science Center Reactor. A fast pneumatic transfer system, an integrated computer control system, and a graphite-moderated counting system were constructed to perform all these experiments. The calculated values for the five-group U-235 delayed neutron parameters and the six-group Pu-239 delayed neutron parameters were compared with the values recommended by Keepin et al. (1957) and Waldo et al. (1981). These new values differ slightly from literature values. The graphite-moderated counting station and the computerized pneumatic system are now operational for further delayed neutron measurement.