BENCHMARK PROGRESS TOWARDS TREAT M8CAL CORE LOADING TO SUPPORT VALIDATION OF TREAT OPERATIONS

摘要

Benchmark experiment data is necessary to validate modeling and simulation activities to support Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility restart and operations. Key measurements of interest include criticality, control rod worth, excess reactivity, and shutdown margin for varying core loading sizes. Benchmark evaluations are being developed according to the guidelines provided in the International Handbook of Evaluated Reactor Physics Benchmark Experiments (IRPhEP Handbook) that can also support advanced modeling and simulation activities, new experiment design for advanced reactors and accident tolerant fuel, and potential low-enriched uranium conversion of the TREAT reactor. This summary discusses ongoing activities supporting plans for a benchmark evaluation of the TREAT M8CAL core loading, which will be submitted for peer-review and publication in the IRPhEP Handbook. Preparation of detailed models with subsequent bias and uncertainty analyses to support benchmark model development includes acquisition of drawings, material data, and experimental measurements from which benchmark experiment data can be derived and evaluated. Supplemental information from prior M-series calibration experiments such as M2CAL, M3CAL, and M7CAL provide additional insight into some of the materials, their respective properties, dimensions, and experiment design later implemented in M8CAL. Further investigation is necessary to fully comprehend, as much as practical, the M8CAL measurement series and evaluate them as integral benchmark experiments.