Reactor Theory (Nuclear Parameters)DOE-HDBK-1019/2-93NEUTRON LIFE CYCLENEUTRON LIFE CYCLESome number of the fast neutrons produced by fission in one generation willeventually cause fission in the next generation. The series of steps that fissionneutrons go through as they slow to thermal energies and are absorbed in thereactor is referred to as the neutron life cycle. The neutron life cycle is markedlydifferent between fast reactors and thermal reactors. This chapter presents theneutron life cycle for thermal reactors.EO 1.1DEFINE the following terms:a.Infinite multiplication factor, kd.Criticalb.Effective multiplication factor, keffe.Supercriticalc.SubcriticalEO 1.2DEFINE each term in the six factor formula using the ratio ofthe number of neutrons present at different points in theneutron life cycle.EO 1.3Given the macroscopic cross sections for various materials,CALCULATE the thermal utilization factor.EO 1.4Given microscopic cross sections for absorption and fission,atom density, and n, CALCULATE the reproduction factor.EO 1.5Given the numbers of neutrons present at the start of a generationand values for each factor in the six factor formula, CALCULATE thenumber of neutrons that will be present at any point in the lifecycle.EO 1.6LIST physical changes in the reactor core that will have an effecton the thermal utilization factor, reproduction factor, orresonance escape probability.EO 1.7EXPLAIN the effect that temperature changes will have on thefollowing factors:a.Thermal utilization factorb.Resonance escape probabilityc.Fast non-leakage probabilityd.Thermal non-leakage probabilityRev. 0NP-03Page 1
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