Assembly of core for the IGRIK-2 solution pulse reactor

Abstract

The IGRIK‑2 solution pulse reactor is a new generation irradiation facility with a distinguishing feature of a large experimental channel of up to 39 cm in diameter. The characteristics of gamma-neutron radiation were justified at the stage of its development. The possibility of implementing the design characteristics is determined by the critical configuration of the core: its geometry and the composition of the fuel solution comprising a light water solution of uranyl sulfate. One of the tasks in the implementation of the critical configuration, including the assembly of the IGRIK‑2 reactor core, is the preparation of a fuel solution. The complexity of the task is firstly due to the use of fuel solutions from decommissioned IGRIK and ELIR reactors as the initial components, and secondly due to the requirements of ensuring a given geometry of the core while minimizing the concentration of cadmium contained in the fuel solution of the ELIR reactor. The paper describes an experimental calculation method for assembling the core of the IGRIK‑2 reactor. The preparation of the fuel solution and confirmation of the critical core configurations were carried out in four stages with a cycle of computational and experimental studies carried out at each stage. The results of each stage are presented. The achievement of the desired critical configuration is demonstrated.