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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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New coolants, new fuels: A new generation of university reactors
Here’s an easy way to make aging U.S. power reactors look relatively youthful: Compare them (average age: 43) with the nation’s university research reactors. The 25 operating today have been licensed for an average of about 58 years.
J. T. Thomas
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 52 | Number 3 | November 1973 | Pages 350-359
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE73-A19482
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Criticality studies were made of three-dimensional arrays of uranium-metal cylinders enriched to 93.2 wt% in 235U. Four weight groups of units, ranging from 10.4 to 26.2 kg of uranium in five geometries, were employed to determine the critical surface separation between units as a function of the number in an array. The influence on criticality of hydrogenous neutron reflecting and moderating materials, unit shape, array shape, and of other controlled perturbations to some assemblies was examined. Monte Carlo calculations were performed of the experimental assemblies to confirm the neutron multiplication factors and to interpret the behavior of several subcritical assemblies. The Hansen-Roach neutron cross-section sets reproduce the results of the experiments, in a majority of cases, to an accuracy of ≈1% in keff.