Development of Improved Data Analysis Methods for Reactivity Measurements in Large Thermal-Power Reactors

A current widespread procedure relies on the use of a reactivity meter for differential control rod measurements in nuclear reactors. From an observational point of view, the reactivity meter will measure the correct core reactivity if the input to the meter is proportional to the neutron amplitude function. A single detector reading is generally proportional to the amplitude function only if the point kinetics approximation is valid, that is, if the spatial flux distribution is invariant in time.