What is the MARIA reactor reactivity cost?

Cost of nuclear fuel that has to be replenished from time to time is the single most conspicuous component of costs of running the MARIA research reactor. The replenishment period depends primarily on reactor power and time of operation. However, some reactivity margin must be kept if the reactor is to run at high power densities during physical experiments and target irradiation. Reactivity margin is among the most important reactor operational parameters. Apart capability to run at high power levels, the parameter influences also reactor safety.

The speaker will show how the cost of fuel is related to decrease of reactor reactivity appearing after introducing some target materials into reactor core, during physical experiments, or in result of other processes, such as poisoning of beryllium moderator or coolant temperature effect. The price of reactivity has been calculated on the basis of operational data acquired during the period the reactor has been run on the LEU fuel.

Reactor Analyses and Measurements Lab in NCBJ Research Reactor Technology Division

Seminar will be held in the MARIA reactor building conference room. All interested may take NCBJ bus from Warsaw to Świerk. The bus will leave at 10.15 from entrance gate to the Hoża 69 premises in Warsaw.