Measurement of isothermal temperature reactivity coefficient at research reactor with IRT-4M fuel

• Isothermal coefficient of reactivity with IRT-4M fuel was measured.
• Experiment was performed at VR-1 zero power reactor.
• Tailor-made instrumentation was used.
• MCNP code was used for analysis of experimental data.

Transients analyses is of high importance for reactor safety studies. The temperature reactivity coefficients belong to key input parameters for such studies. However, the amount of experimental data for validation of such parameters for the conditions of research reactors operated with LEU fuel is limited. To improve the situation, a tailor-made experimental instrumentation has been recently developed at zero power research reactor VR-1 that allows for detailed measurement of temperature reactivity effects in lattices with IRT-4M fuel. The instrumentation enables by external water heater to change the temperature of fuel and surrounding water moderator in 2 × 2 positions of reactor grid in the range from 20 to 40 °C. Using the instrumentation the isothermal temperature reactivity effect was measured for a group of four eight-tube fuel assemblies in the above mentioned temperature range. Results were compared to MCNP calculations with the precise model of the VR-1 reactor. The MCNP code was further used for deeper analysis of experimental data.