A Problem in the Teaching of Reactor Kinetics

The classic example used to illustrate the solution to the point kinetics equations with one equivalent delayed-neutron group is argued to be inappropriate for real reactors. However, a solution to the equations, altered by the addition of a neutron source, is shown to have qualitative resemblance to a real reactor and to predict that all steady states are subcritical. Reactivity oscillations are cited as another reason for subcritical steady states.