Operational reactivity considerations of Texas A and M TRIGA

The Texas A and M University Nuclear Science Center Reactor was converted from a 100 kW MTR type core to a modified 1 MW TRIGA Mark III core in August, 1968. The TRIGA core has solved many of the low neutron flux problems without requiring a forced cooled reactor. However, the TRIGA core has presented some operational problems as the results of its reactivity requirements. Several solutions have been proposed to eliminate the problem of burnup. The use of fueled followers is presently being implemented at Texas A and M, but this is only a temporary solution. A final solution is the use of FLIP fuel which is presently under development. It incorporates a burnable poison in the fuel matrix, which results in a predicted lifetime of 9 MW-years. A decision to use this fuel will depend on the results of the PRNC conversion