Axial Dependence of Partial Void Reactivity in a Light Water-Cooled, Heavy Water-Moderated, Pressure-Tube Reactor

The effect on reactivity of changes in the coolant levels in the pressure tubes of a pressure-tube heavy water reactor is experimentally studied to clarify the effect of an axial coolant void fraction distribution. The coolant void fraction distribution is simulated by stepwise changes in the coolant levels in the Deuterium Critical Assembly (DCA). The reactivity is measured for a 25.0-cm-pitch square-lattice core with a positive coolant void reactivity. The reactivity changes resulting from changes in the coolant levels are measured as changes in the critical heavy water levels. The axial distribution of the thermal neutron flux is also measured by the copper activation method. In these measurements, the critical heavy water levels show a sinuous curve having a maximum and a minimum, and a positive reactivity larger than those of both the 0% and the 100% void uniform cores is introduced at certain coolant levels by stepwise changes in the coolant levels. An experimental analysis is performed with the coupled WIMS-ATR/CITATION code system, whose analytical method was established through DCA critical experiments. Agreement between experiment and analysis is fairly good. Furthermore, the peculiar reactivity behavior resulting from changes in the coolant levels is analyzed using a simplified model to take note of typical reactor physics parameters. It is clarified that this anomalous phenomenon is caused by the combined effect of the flattened S curve change in the thermal neutron absorption and the even flatter S curve change in the neutron leakage caused by the changes in the coolant levels. Useful information is obtained regarding reactivity behavior with an axial coolant void fraction distribution.