Safety analysis of the irradiation of Tellurium (Te) target in G.A. Siwabessy Reactor

Abstract

Safety Analysis of the Irradiation of Tellurium (Te) Target in G.A. Siwabessy Reactor. Providing public service becomes one of the priority programs made by the Head of BATAN, such a program is the radioisotope production of Iodine 131 (I-131), which emits gamma and beta that are utilized for medical purpose. The radioisotope can be produced by irradiating the target of Tellurium dioxide (TeO2) on the G.A. Siwabessy Reactor core. Tellurium dioxide (TeO2) is irradiated on the position of Central Irradiation Position (CIP) D-6 and E-7 because the Irradiation Position (IP) is used for Topaz irradiation and CIP (D-6, E-7) is used for the irradiation of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU). Based on the several safety requirements such as analyze the optimum amount of the Tellurium target on CIP (D-6, E-7) with Topaz and LEU. The scope of the research includes the reactivity disturbance, radial power peaking factor and thermohydraulic disturbance. The diffusion group constant of the model uses the program of WIMSD-5B and the result is used for calculating reactivity disturbance and radial power peaking factor with the program package of BATAN-2DIFF. The thermohydraulic disturbance is calculated with using the Generalized Gap Temperature Calculation (GENGTC) program. The calculation of the reactivity of 750 gram (6x125 gram) Tellurium is resulting the change of negative reactivity of-0.27% Δk/k and the value of radial power peaking factor is 1.34 and the temperature at the center of TeO2 target is 366.7°C and outside the capsule (Aluminum) is 58.39°C, if it is compared to the safety margin of ± 2% Δk/k, PPFrad max=2.6, melting point of Al=660°C, melting point of Te=449.5°C, so all the parameters still meets the safety requirement.