Characterization of an Advanced Gadolinium Neutron Absorber Alloy by Means of Neutron Transmission. Global 2007.

Wachs, G. W. ; Sterbentz, J. W. ; Montierth, L. M. ; Tovesson, F. K. ; Hill, T. S.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Gadolinium alloys;    Neutron absorbers;    Characterization;    Spent fuels;    Criticality;   

RP-ID  :  DE2007918177

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

Neutron transmission experiments were performed on samples of an advanced nickel-chromium- molybdenumgadolinium (Ni-Cr-Mo-Gd) neutron absorber alloy. The primary purpose of the experiments was to demonstrate the thermal neutron absorbing capability of the alloy at specific gadolinium dopant levels. The new alloy is to be deployed for criticality control of highly enriched DOE SNF. For the transmission experiments, alloy test samples were fabricated with 0.0, 1.58 and 2.1 wt% natural gadolinium dispersed in a Ni-Cr-Mo base alloy. The transmission experiments were successfully carried out at the Los AlamosNeutron Science Center (LANSCE). Measured data from the neutron transmission experiments were compared to calculated results derived from a simple exponential transmission formula using only radiative capture cross sections. Excellent agreement between the measured and calculated results demonstrated the expected strong thermal absorption capability of the gadolinium poison and in addition, verified the measured elemental composition of the alloy test samples. The good agreement also indirectly confirmed that the gadolinium was dispersed fairly uniformly in the alloy and the ENDF VII radiative capture cross section data were accurate.