1980•OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information)Open access
Initial Physics Measurements on FFTF
R.A. Bennett, J.W. Daughtry, Roger A. Harris, D. Huw Jones, T.L. King, J.C. Midgett, J.L. Rathbun, R.B. Rothrock, Bruce D. Zimmerman
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Abstract
Initial criticality of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) was achieved on February 9, 1980 at 3:45 p.m. During the period November 27, 1979 to March 8, 1980, fuel was loaded into the FFTF core, initial criticality was achieved, and several subcritical physics measurements were performed. The data obtained from initial FFTF nuclear operation are presented. Specifically, the absolute and relative neutron count rates were predicted for the bulk of the seventy-three fuel loadings of FFTF. Agreement between predicted and observed values is illustrated. Severe variations of fission chamber detection efficiency in the reactor shield is contrasted with that near the core center. Control rod worths, measured by the rod drop inverse kinetics method, are compared with predictions based upon Engineering Mockup Critical (EMC) evaluations. Control rod reactivity worth curves measured by rod run-in inverse kinetics are given.
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