AI Article Synopsis

  • KAlpakkam MINI reactor (KAMINI) utilizes 233U fuel for research and has neutron irradiation areas for experiments, with the south beam pit specifically used for neutron attenuation studies and neutron radiography.
  • During reactor operation, a movable shield helps reduce streaming neutrons and gamma rays, but significant doses still occur, with measurements indicating neutron and gamma dose rates of 275-300 μSv/h and 175-200 μSv/h, respectively, at 10 kW power.
  • The Nested Neutron Spectrometer has been used to characterize the neutron spectra at the vault door location, revealing that a paraffin shield significantly lowers neutron energy and attenuates neutron flux by 25,000 times, leading to a more thermal

Article Abstract

KAlpakkam MINI reactor (KAMINI) is a 233U fuelled research reactor has various neutron irradiation locations for experimental purposes. The pit at the south beam end of KAMINI reactor is being extensively utilised for neutron attenuation experiments in prospective shielding materials as well as for neutron radiography. During reactor operation, it will be closed by a movable shield. A vault door is located above the shield and the movable shield is used to attenuate streaming neutrons and gamma-rays during reactor operation. Even with the shield, there exists significant dose because of streaming neutrons and gamma rays. Its variation depends on the power of the reactor. The neutron and gamma dose rates close to the south beam vault door have recently been found to be 275-300 μSv/h and 175-200 μSv/h, respectively, when the reactor is operating at 10 kW. In order to characterise the streaming neutron spectra of vault door place for the first time, measurements are done using the Nested Neutron Spectrometer. Along with the neutron flux, neutron mean energy and ambient dose-equivalent rate are also measured and compared with earlier measurements carried out inside the south beam pit. It is observed that the presence of paraffin shield reduces the neutron average energy from 370 to 178 keV. Apart from energy reduction, 10 kW normalised neutron flux of south beam pit is also attenuated by the shield by 25 000 times and it is found that the neutron spectrum of the measured location is also more thermalized. Neutron reference data of the location are generated.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncae015DOI Listing

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