The Use of EOLE and MINERVE Critical Facilities for the Generation 3 Light Water Reactors Studies

Bosq, J. C.; Antony, M.; Salvo, J. Di; Klein, J. C.; Thiollay, Nicolas; Blaise, Patrick; Leconte, Pierre

doi:10.1051/rgn/20115063

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Unlike MASURCA, the EOLE zero power critical mock-up is devoted to the investigation of light water reactor physics [15]. This facility consists of a concrete shielding including two concentric vessels where cores, reproducing neutronic features of water cooled reactors, can be easily installed.…”

Section: B the Eole Facilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Irradiation campaign in the EOLE critical facility of fiber optic Bragg gratings dedicated to the online temperature measurement in zero power research reactors

Mellier¹,

Morana²,

Cheymol³

et al. 2015

2015 4th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and Their Applications (ANIMMA

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The control of temperature during operation of zero power research reactors participates to the overall control of experimentation conditions and reveals itself of a major importance more especially when measuring small multiplication factor variations. Within the framework of the refurbishment of the MASURCA facility, the development of a new temperature measurement system based on the optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology is under consideration. In a first step, a series of FBGs is irradiated in the EOLE critical facility with the aim to select the most appropriate. Online temperature measurements are performed during a set of irradiations that should allow reaching a fast neutron fluence nearly 5·10 14 n.cm -2 and a total gamma dose less than 4 kGy. The results obtained, especially the Bragg wavelength shifts during the irradiation campaign, are discussed in this paper and compared to data from standard PT100 temperature sensors to highlight possible radiation effects on sensor performances. Work to be conducted during the second step of the project, aiming to a feasibility demonstration using a MASURCA assembly, is also presented.

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Section: B the Eole Facilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Irradiation campaign in the EOLE critical facility of fiber optic Bragg gratings dedicated to the online temperature measurement in zero power research reactors

Mellier¹,

Morana²,

Cheymol³

et al. 2015

2015 4th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and Their Applications (ANIMMA

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“…These modes allow the use of this kind of neutron detector on a large flux (or fluence rate) range, from 10 5 to 10 10 cm -2 ·s -1 . Miniature FCs used in pulse mode are relevant and commonly employed in zero-power reactors like the CEA EOLE facility [7].…”

Section: Miniature Fission Chamber Measurements and Calibration Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Miniature fission chambers calibration in pulse mode: Interlaboratory comparison at the SCK·CEN BR1 and CEA CALIBAN reactors

Lamirand

Geslot

Wagemans³

et al. 2013

2013 3rd International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and Their Applications (ANIMM

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Miniature fission chambers are suited tools for instrumenting experimental reactors, allowing online and in-core neutron measurements of quantities such as fission rates or reactor power. A new set of such detectors was produced by CEA to be used during the next experimental program at the EOLE facility starting in 2013. Some of these detectors will be employed in pulse mode for absolute measurements, thus requiring calibration. The calibration factor is expressed in mass units and thus called "effective mass". A calibration campaign was conducted in December 2012 at the SCK•CEN BR1 facility within the framework of the scientific cooperation VEP (VENUS- EOLE-PROTEUS) between SCK•CEN, CEA and PSI.Two actions were conducted in order to improve the calibration method. First a new characterisation of the thermal flux cavity and the MARK3 neutron flux conversion device performed by SCK•CEN allowed using calculated effective cross sections for determining detectors effective masses. Dosimetry irradiations were performed in situ in order to determine the neutron flux level and provide link to the metrological standard. Secondly two fission chambers were also calibrated at the CEA CALIBAN reactor (fast neutron spectrum), using the same method so that the results can be compared with the results obtained at the SCK•CEN.In this paper the calibration method and recent improvements on uncertainty reduction are presented. The results and uncertainties obtained in the two reactors CALIBAN and BR1 are compared and discussed.

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“…This calculation must be qualified not only at the vessel hot spot but also at any point where metallurgical defect may be detected. FLUOLE-2 program, acronym of FLUency in eOLE, carried out in the critical facility EOLE [1] at the French CEA Cadarache Centre, is a benchmark-type experiment dedicated to the qualification of neutron spectrum propagation calculation outside the core to both surveillance capsule and pressure vessel. Several steel-water slides simulate neutron paths in both 900 and 1450 MWe PWRs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FLUOLE-2: An Experiment for PWR Pressure Vessel Surveillance

Thiollay

Salvo

Sandrin

et al. 2016

EPJ Web of Conferences

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FLUOLE-2 is a benchmark-type experiment dedicated to 900 and 1450 MWe PWR vessels surveillance dosimetry. This two-year program started in 2014 and will end in 2015. It will provide precise experimental data for the validation of the neutron spectrum propagation calculation from core to vessel. It is composed of a square core surrounded by a stainless steel baffle and internals: PWR barrel is simulated by steel structures leading to different steel-water slides; two steel components stand for a surveillance capsule holder and for a part of the pressure vessel. Measurement locations are available on the whole experimental structure. The experimental knowledge of core sources will be obtained by integral gamma scanning measurements directly on fuel pins. Reaction rates measured by calibrated fission chambers and a large set of dosimeters will give information on the neutron energy and spatial distributions. Due to the low level neutron flux of EOLE ZPR a special, high efficiency, calibrated gamma spectrometry device will be used for some dosimeters, allowing to measure an activity as low as 7. 10 −2 Bq per sample. 103m Rh activities will be measured on an absolute calibrated X spectrometry device. FLUOLE-2 experiment goal is to usefully complete the current experimental benchmarks database used for the validation of neutron calculation codes. This two-year program completes the initial FLUOLE program held in 2006-2007 in a geometry representative of 1300 MWe PWR.

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The Use of EOLE and MINERVE Critical Facilities for the Generation 3 Light Water Reactors Studies

Cited by 11 publications

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Irradiation campaign in the EOLE critical facility of fiber optic Bragg gratings dedicated to the online temperature measurement in zero power research reactors

Irradiation campaign in the EOLE critical facility of fiber optic Bragg gratings dedicated to the online temperature measurement in zero power research reactors

Miniature fission chambers calibration in pulse mode: Interlaboratory comparison at the SCK·CEN BR1 and CEA CALIBAN reactors

FLUOLE-2: An Experiment for PWR Pressure Vessel Surveillance

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The Use of EOLE and MINERVE Critical Facilities for the Generation 3 Light Water Reactors Studies

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Irradiation campaign in the EOLE critical facility of fiber optic Bragg gratings dedicated to the online temperature measurement in zero power research reactors

Irradiation campaign in the EOLE critical facility of fiber optic Bragg gratings dedicated to the online temperature measurement in zero power research reactors

Miniature fission chambers calibration in pulse mode: Interlaboratory comparison at the SCK&#x00B7;CEN BR1 and CEA CALIBAN reactors

FLUOLE-2: An Experiment for PWR Pressure Vessel Surveillance

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Product

Resources

About

Miniature fission chambers calibration in pulse mode: Interlaboratory comparison at the SCK·CEN BR1 and CEA CALIBAN reactors