Evaluation of the Pump Capability of the Primary Cooling of TRIGA 2000 Research Reactor

Abstract

The TRIGA 2000 research reactor has been operating since mid 2000. Currently, there are plans to convert the reactor core from cylindrical fuel element to plate type fuel element. The conversion process is expected to not change too many existing systems, including the primary cooling systems. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate the pump capability of the primary cooling system. Based on experimental studies, then merging with the existing installation system head, it has been obtained the main and the redundant pump mass flow rate of 45 and 45.5 kg/s, respectively. The pump capability decreased by around 5 % compared to the results of its commissioning. If the two pumps are combined in parallel, the combined mass flow rate can increase to 62 kg/s. The existing primary pumps cannot be used for primary cooling system if the reactor core is converted into a plate type, even though both pump are installed in parallel. These results need to be considered in designing a new core of the Bandung TRIGA 2000 research reactor with primary cooling systems that are slightly modified because they have to add the decay tank.