Mathematical modeling and measurement of the activated corrosion products in the MNSR research reactor

The corrosion product activities of 24Na and 27Mg have been experimentally measured as a function of the MNSR reactor operation time. The 24Na corrosion product contribution is much more than the Mg activity in the MNSR reactor coolant and its activity increased with the reactor operation time. The activity of the 27Mg corrosion product reaches its saturation state in about 2 h after the start of the MNSR reactor operation. The mean neutron flux and cross sections for the interactions of 27Al with neutrons in the MNSR reactor have been numerically calculated using MCNP-4C code. A simple mathematical model for the simulation of the coolant activation due to the corrosion products in the MNSR reactor has been proposed. This model has been based on considering the balance between the rate of radioactive nuclei production and their radioactive decays. The calculated 24Na and 27Mg corrosion products activities values are in a good agreement with the corresponding experimental measured values.

► The corrosion products were experimentally measured in the MNSR core reactor.
► A model was proposed for simulation of the corrosion products.
► The cross sections and neutron flux were calculated using the MCNP-4C code.
► The numerical results were in a good agreement with the corresponding measured values.