Gamma ray heating in a 300-MW(e) gas-cooled breeder reactor

Abstract

Distributed source and neutron coupled gamma ray methods (Nagel, 1975) were used to evaluate gamma ray heating rates in the core and blanket of the Gas Cooled Fast Breeder Reactor (General Atomic Report, 1974). ENDF/B-IV, nuclear data files were used. Contributions of secondary gamma rays ( n, γ) and ( n, xγ), fission product decay gamma rays, and breeding product decay gamma rays to gamma ray heating rates were calculated. Transport of gamma rays produced in the core was found to dominate the blanket gamma ray heating near the core/blanket interface, decreasing significantly at points far away from interface. Near the center of the radial blanket decay gamma rays from the breeding products were found to be the major contributor of heat.