Analysis of the rod-drop experiments performed during the CABRI commissioning tests

M. Maillot (1) , G. Truchet (1) , J.P. Hudelot (1) , J. Lecerf (1)

1 CEA-DES (ex-DEN) - CEA-Direction des Energies (ex-Direction de l'Energie Nucléaire)

CABRI is an experimental pulse reactor operated by the CEA at the Cadarache research center. After its refurbishment, it is now able to provide experiments in prototypical PWR conditions (155 bar, 300DC). Before operating, commissioning tests were performed, including control rod worth measurements. These experi-ments are done thanks to the rod-drop technique, which gathers static and dynamic effects. This paper reminds the theoretical background of the rod drop analysis. Then it gives a rigorous definition for the MSM factors (i.e. spatial correction factors to take into account the modification of the detector efficiency). An uncertainty analysis is performed and results prove the validity of the proposed model. Finally, the conclusion focuses on some possible improvements, like a rigorous importance calculation using the stochastic code TRIPOLI-4 and the use of different nuclear data libraries.

Mots clés: Rod-Drop; Spatial Correction Factor; Dynamic Reactivity; MSM factors

Domaines: Physique Nucléaire Expérimentale [nucl-ex]; Physique Nucléaire Théorique [nucl-th]

M. Maillot, G. Truchet, J.P. Hudelot, J. Lecerf. Analysis of the rod-drop experiments performed during the CABRI commissioning tests. RRFM2018, Mar 2018, Munich, Germany. ⟨cea-02339288⟩