Title: Core conversion design study of TRIGA Mark 2000 Bandung using MTR plate type fuel element

Authors: Surian Pinem; Tagor Malem Sembiring; Tukiran Surbakti

Addresses: Centre for Nuclear Reactor Technology and Safety, National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), Kawasan Puspipitek Serpong Gd. No. 80, Tangerang Selatan, Indonesia ' Centre for Nuclear Energy System Assessment, National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), Jl. Kuningan Barat, Mampang Prapatan, Jakarta, Indonesia ' Centre for Nuclear Reactor Technology and Safety, National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), Kawasan Puspipitek Serpong Gd. No. 80, Tangerang Selatan, Indonesia

Abstract: The TRIGA 2000 Bandung (TRIGA 2000) is a TRIGA Mark II type reactor with the nominal thermal power of 2 MW. It is used as a back-up reactor for irradiation radioisotope targets to the local market. This present study describes the fuel type conversion, from TRIGA fuel rod type to the MTR fuel plate type, as a solution to the fuel shortage. The optimum silicide (U₃Si₂-Al) equilibrium core are obtained by using WIMSD/5B (cell calculations) and BATAN-FUEL and BATAN-3DIFF (core calculations) codes for static and kinetic core parameters. The core calculation results showed that the optimum equilibrium core configuration is 5×5 core grid position and the maximum thermal neutron fluxes in the centre and periphery core are 6.07×10¹³ neutron/cm²s and 1.41×10¹³ neutron/cm²s, respectively. It is concluded that TRIGA 2000 reactor can be designed with very satisfactory static parameters and inherent safety.

Keywords: TRIGA Mark II 2000 Bandung; MTR fuel plate type; core conversion; silicide fuel; TRIGA fuel rod type.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2018.095689

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2018 Vol.12 No.3, pp.222 - 238

Received: 26 Oct 2017
Accepted: 10 Jul 2018
Published online: 16 Oct 2018 *

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