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Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
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Securing the advanced reactor fleet
Physical protection accounts for a significant portion of a nuclear power plant’s operational costs. As the U.S. moves toward smaller and safer advanced reactors, similar protection strategies could prove cost prohibitive. For tomorrow’s small modular reactors and microreactors, security costs must remain appropriate to the size of the reactor for economical operation.
Viktor Dulin, Igor Matveenko, Evgeny Rozhikhin, Mikhail Semenov, Anatoly Tsibulya
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 178 | Number 3 | November 2014 | Pages 377-386
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE14-58
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In total, eight evaluations with 27 critical configurations spanning 11 series of assemblies conducted at the BFS-1 and BFS-2 facilities [BFS: Bol'shoy Fizicheskiy Stand (in transcription from Russian: Big Physical Facility)] are documented in the 2013 edition of the International Handbook of Evaluated Reactor Physics Benchmark Experiments (IRPhEP Handbook). The evaluations concern four scientific issues: physics of sodium-cooled, medium-sized fast reactors; physics of sodium-cooled, small-sized experimental reactors; physics of lead-cooled fast reactors; and integral benchmark data for the mixed oxide (MOX) fuel manufacturing process, particularly low-moderated MOX fissile media. Also, two evaluations with 11 critical configurations spanning two series of assemblies conducted at the BFS-1 facility where many physical parameters in addition to criticality were measured and are documented in the International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (ICSBEP Handbook). These experiments were designed to obtain data that are applicable to a wide range of criticality safety operations involving fissile contaminated waste streams. This paper provides an overview of the BFS experiments presented in the IRPhEP and ICSBEP Handbooks.