Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

Reduction of radiation exposure probability at Tehran research reactor equipped with a second shutdown system

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

‎E‎hsan ‎Boustani 1
S‎amad ‎Khakshournia 2

1 Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI)‎, ‎Reactor and nuclear safety school‎, ‎Tehran‎, ‎Iran

2 Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI)‎, ‎Accelerator and physics school‎, ‎Tehran 14399-51113‎, ‎Iran‎

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2020.57887
Abstract
‎A second shutdown system (SSS) is designed for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) completely independent and diverse from the existing First Shutdown System (FSS)‎. ‎Given limitations‎, ‎specifications‎, ‎and requirements of the reactor‎, ‎the design of SSS is based on the injection of liquid neutron absorber‎. ‎The plan has the ability to satisfy the major criterion of required negative reactivity worth‎, ‎to transfer the reactor to subcritical state in needed time‎, ‎with necessary shutdown margin and for the required duration‎. ‎Design calculations are performed using the stochastic code MCNPX2.6.0‎, ‎deterministic code PARET and Pipe Flow Expert software‎. ‎The ORIGEN2 code and HotSpot health physics code are also used for simulation of environmental pollution release‎. ‎The SSS chambers cause a decrease of about 5% and 15% in total and thermal neutron flux‎, ‎respectively‎. ‎To demonstrate the SSS role in enhancing reactor safety‎, ‎the probable accident of core meltdown is investigated‎. ‎As a consequence of this accident‎, ‎the radioactive pollution in and out of reactor containment is released‎. ‎Without existing the SSS and in case of failure of FSS‎, ‎the residents within 58000 m2 of the reactor perimeter would receive about 1 mSv which is more than the annual limit of absorbed dose for the community‎.

Highlights

  • One independent and diverse shutdown system is designed for the Tehran Research Reactor.
  • Design of Second Shutdown System (SSS) is based on the injection of a liquid neutron absorber.
  • Design calculations are performed using the MCNPX code, PARET code and the Pipe Flow Expert software.
  • ORIGEN2 and HotSpot codes are also used for simulation of environmental pollution release.
  • After equipping the TRR with the SSS, it is forbidden from signi cant release around the reactor.

Keywords

‎Tehran research reactor
‎Safety
‎Second shutdown system
‎MCNPX code
‎ORIGEN2 code
‎PARET code
‎HotSpot code‎
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Radiation Physics and Engineering
Volume 1, Issue 1
Winter 2020
Pages 33-38

  • Receive Date 26 September 2017
  • Revise Date 30 December 2017
  • Accept Date 15 January 2018

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