Abstract
A method is given for calculating the critical mass as a function of core size and composition, assuming an adequately thick reflector. A working formula is derived by applying the principle of similarity to normal first order perturbation theory. To calculate the coefficients in the formula the space and energy distribution of the neutron flux and of the ‘neutron importance’ calculated numerically for the certain fixed core sizes, is required. The critical mass can then be predicted for a broad range of core sizes covering a variation of about 2 : 1. The spectra must be recalculated numerically if the core size falls outside the range. A formula is given with coefficients calculated for a certain typical fast-reactor spectrum, which is applicable to cores containing a variety of fissile isotopes. The formula is checked by 9-group numerical calculations for core volumes from 200 to 1000 dm 3, the relevant constants being taken from the literature published before 1955.
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