Validation and Neutronic Analysis of the CENM TRIGA MARK II SCALE Research Reactor Model: Computations Versus Experiment

H. Ziani, T. El Bardouni, C. Elyounoussi, I. Berriban, T. El Ghalbzouri, B. El Bakkari, O. El Hajjaji, S. ElMaliki ElHlaibi, M. Lahdour, H. El Yaakoubi

Nuclear Technology | Volume 210 | Number 1 | January 2024 | Pages 72-83

Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2023.2216452

Received:August 22, 2022

Accepted:May 11, 2023

Published:December 13, 2023

Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.

This research analysis is mainly devoted to enhancing the safe and optimum use of the Center des Etudes Nucléaires de la Maâmora (CENM) TRIGA MARK II research reactor. To serve this purpose, various integral neutronic responses, such as the effective multiplication factor k_eff, the effective delayed neutron fraction β_eff, the neutron flux distributions at the beam port entrances and the pneumatic transfer system bottom, the pin power peaking factors, the total excess reactivity, the control rod worth, the shutdown margin, and the worth of 11 fuel elements taken from different TRIGA core positions are calculated in order to evaluate the accuracy and the reliability of the developed TRIGA SCALE reactor model. The aim has been fulfilled by comparing the TRIGA SCALE results with those obtained by the MCNP TRIGA model, as well as with some recent experimental measurements from 2021. In general, all the obtained results reveal a good consistency between the SCALE and MCNP TRIGA models studied in this paper. The results analysis indicates also that the B-2 fuel element (Ring B) is the hottest rod among the 101 fuel rods existing in the TRIGA reactor core, which releases a maximum power of 31.67 kW. Furthermore, the total control rod worth, the total core excess reactivity, and the shutdown margin results are also closer to the experimental measurements.