Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 11-14-2017

Abstract

Typically, the staff of a nonreactor nuclear facility or a processing facility involving nuclear material are not expected to have a strong technical background in nuclear criticality physics, as that is not the purpose of these sites, yet handle material with the potential to undergo a criticality excursion. Such excursions have occurred 22 times in the past, 21 of which involved an aqueous solution material. Therefore, it would be useful to have a general model capable of providing a quick estimation of the consequences of a criticality excursion in a processing plant. To this end, correlations developed utilizing experimental data from previous tests were analyzed, from which it was determined that two bounding empirical correlations are applicable to such a system with a relatively high degree of accuracy. Additionally, a computational model was adapted using Monte Carlo nuclear physics and a time- and volume-element discretization scheme. This model was used to predict the evolution and estimate the consequences of first-pulse excursions from both a SILENE experimental excursion and the historical Wood River Junction accident. The model was able to predict the power peak and total energy from the SILENE experiment when a pressure gradient damping factor was applied. Further work is needed to adequately account for the reactivity feedback from volume changes and balance the pressure effects with density effects.

Keywords

uranyl, nitrate, radiolytic, production, nucleation, fission

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Nuclear Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Nuclear Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Dr. Robert D. Busch

Second Committee Member

Dr. Cassiano R.E. de Oliveira

Third Committee Member

Dr. David L.Y. Louie

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