[3D09-13] Experimental Analysis Method Development

[3D12] Analysis of critical experiments of TCA cores composed of low enriched UO₂ fuel rods and water holes

*Toru Yamamoto

Keywords:TCA critical experiment, Low enriched uranium, Water hole, MVP3, JENDL-4.0, Effective neutron multiplication factor, Hydrogen, S(α,β)

The critical experiments of TCA, where the critical water levels were measured by changing the number of water holes in the center of the low enriched UO₂ lattice core, were analyzed by the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP3 with JENDL-4.0. As a result, the calculated k_eff values systematically decreased along with the number of water holes and the critical water levels. To reduce the trend in k_eff values, the modifications of the cross-sections of hydrogen, oxygen, and uranium isotopes were studied.