Effects of neutron-distribution pattern on the stability of a power reactor

A method has been developed for calculating the stability of a power reactor with any stationary power distribution; tables have been formulated for the values of the parameters that can be used to determine the instability buildup period for the radial and azimuthal power distribution. A dip in the steady-state neutron distribution at the center of the core has an appreciable effect on the instability buildup period, e.g., a 30% dip at the center of the core reduces the period by about a factor 1.5. This method can be used with the method of measuring the instability period in identifying the individual dynamic parameters of a power reactor. 3 refs