Benchmark problems of start-up core physics of High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR)

The experimental data of the HTTRs start-up core physics are useful to verify design codes of commercial HTGRs due to the similarities in the core size and excess reactivity. Form these viewpoints, it is significant to carry out the bench mark tests of design codes by using data of start-up core physics experiments planned for the HTTR. The evaluations of the first criticality, excess reactivity of annular cores, etc., are proposed for the benchmark problem. It was found from our precalculations that diffusion calculations provide larger excess reactivity and small number of fuel columns for the first criticality than Monte Carlo calculations. 19 refs