The effect of temperature and control rod position on the spatial neutron flux distribution in the Syrian miniature neutron source reactor

Abstract

The effect on the spatial neutron flux distribution for both of water and fuel temperature increase as well as the change in the control rod position are presented in the Syrian miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR). The cross-sections of all the reactor components at different temperatures are generated using the WIMSD4 code. These group constants are used then in the CITATION code to calculate the spatial neutron flux distribution at different water and fuel temperatures and different control rod positions using four energy groups. This work shows that the increase in water and fuel temperatures during the reactor daily operating time does not affect the spatial neutron flux distribution in the reactor. The change in the control rod position does not affect as well the spatial neutron flux distribution in the reactor except in the region around the control rod position.