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Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments Derived from Argonne National Laboratory Zero Power Reactor Assemblies

R. W. Schaefer, R. M. Lell, R. D. McKnight

Nuclear Science and Engineering / Volume 145 / Number 1 / September 2003 / Pages 84-96

Technical Paper / dx.doi.org/10.13182/NSE03-A2365

Numerous criticality safety benchmarks have been, and continue to be, developed from experiments performed on Argonne National Laboratory's plate-type fast critical assemblies. The nature and scope of assemblies suitable for deriving these benchmarks are discussed. The benchmark derivation process, including full treatment of all significant uncertainties, is explained. Calculational results are presented that support the small uncertainty assigned to the key derivation step in which complex geometric detail is removed.