Published May 1968 | Version v1
Book

Masurca 1-A and 1-B-Preliminary Results

  • 1. CEA, Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Cadarache (France)

Description

The MASURCA fast-neutron critical model at Cadarache went critical in December 1966 with a plutonium configuration, using graphite as diluent so as to obtain a neutron spectrum lying within the spectral range of high-power fast reactors. The authors describe the construction of the first core, composed of the MASURCA 1-A lattice using a U-Pu-Fe alloy with 25% Pu, and also their experimental techniques. Spectral index measurement data and reactivity coefficients for various materials are quoted. The material buckling value of the assembly was determined experimentally using spatial distributions for various reaction rates. Some measurement data are compared with the corresponding theoretical values calculated from transport theory or by a Monte Carlo method. The paper ends with an analysis of the causes of error and indicates improvements which should be made in experimental methods and in interpretation of the measurements. (author)

Abstract (French)

La maquette critique a neutrons rapides de Cadarache MASURCA a diverge en décembre 1966 sur une configuration au plutonium, utilisant le graphite comme diluant afin d' obtenir un spectre de neutrons se situant dans la gamme des spectres de reacteurs rapides de puissance elevee. La realisation du premier coeur, constitue par le reseau MASURCA 1-A utilisant T alliage U-Pu-Fe a 25% de plutonium, est dfecrite ainsi que les techniques experimentales utilisees. On presente les resultats des mesures d' indices de spectre et de coefficients de rfeactivite de differents materiaux. La valeur du laplacien matiere de l' assemblage a ete determinee experimentalement a partir des distributions spatiales de divers taux de reaction. Certains resultats de mesures sont compares a leur valeur calculee en theorie du transport ou a l' aide d'une methode de Monte-Carlo. En conclusion, on presente une analyse de causes d' erreurs et des ameliorations et apporter aux methodes experimentales ainsi qu'a Interpretation des mesures. (author)
Part of:
Fast Reactor Physics. Vol. II. Proceedings of a Symposium on Fast Reactor Physics and Related Safety Problems

Additional details

Additional titles

Original title (French)
Masurca 1-A et 1-B - Resultats Preliminaires

Publishing Information

Publisher
IAEA
Imprint Place
Vienna (International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA))
Imprint Title
Fast Reactor Physics. Vol. II. Proceedings of a Symposium on Fast Reactor Physics and Related Safety Problems
Imprint Pagination
606 p.
Series
Proceedings Series
Journal Page Range
p. 3-33
ISSN
0074-1884

Conference

Title
Symposium on Fast Reactor Physics and Related Safety Problems
Dates
30 Oct - 3 Nov 1967
Place
Karlsruhe (Germany)

Optional Information

Notes
9 Refs., 12 figs., 10 tabs. Imprint:In two volumes
Secondary number(s)
IAEA-SM--101/59