International Conference on Research Reactors:
Safe Management and Effective Utilization

14-18 November 2011, Rabat, Morocco

This paper presents the results of neutronic tests performed in August 2010 in the IPR-R1 TRIGA reactor, located at the Nuclear Technology Development Center — CDTN, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. These experiments follow the determination of the IPR-R1 Safety Analysis Report, which states the necessity to perform them annually to ensure the safety of the reactor. The IPR-R1 TRIGA reactor has a nominal power of 100 kW in a steady-state operation, and its power will be upgraded to 250 kW. The license to operate at 250 kW is under final review by the regulatory body of Brazil. The tests described here will be repeated and new experiments will be conducted in the new power. The control rods were calibrated and the worth of Regulation, Shim and Safety rods were 0.48 $, 3.21 $ and 2.84 $, respectively. The value of the excess reactivity obtained to compensate the negative reactivity due to negative temperature coefficient, xenon poisoning, etc, was 2.00 $. The shutdown margin obtained was 1.32 $, the power coefficient of reactivity was -0.66 ¢/kW, and the power defect was 0.76 $.

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