Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8067051 | Annals of Nuclear Energy | 2018 | 14 Pages |
Abstract
In order to improve the Small Medium Reactor's radiation protection system, a new design for primary radiation shielding based on Tungsten Carbide and Lead is presented. The application of Tungsten Carbide is considered, so that a compromise between low weight and high absorption is found, to achieve allowed radiation dose rate after reactor shutdown. Its high density and the presence of Carbon nuclei, makes this material an interesting shielding against photons and fast neutrons as well, leading to an original design. Tungsten Carbide is arranged in absorbing rods of 17.05â¯mm inner diameter with a pitch of 20â¯mm, voids between absorbing rods are filled with Lead in order to increase the self-shielding of the structure. Design process is illustrated with an application example for a hypothetical 200â¯MW Small Medium Reactor. Radiation source was quantified with ORIGEN code and radiation transport throughout shielding was calculated with MCNP5 code. The result was a shielding of 31â¯cm thickness and 150â¯MT of weight. The maximum dose rate was 3â¯ÂµSv/h, after 83â¯min since reactor shutdown.
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Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Authors
M.A.N. Giménez, E.M. Lopasso,