USE OF SMALL SOURCE THEORY IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE CRITICAL SIZE OF HETEROGENEOUS THERMAL REACTORS

摘要

The critical equation based on small source theory contains certain parame¬ters which characterize the fuel elements and other parameters which character¬ize the moderator of a heterogeneous reactor. In addition, the dimensions of the lattice enter into the critical equation. The material buckling of a thermal reactor can be determined from this critical equation once the parameters characterizing the fuel elements and the moderator are known.nThe parameters which characterize the moderator are the thermal diffusion coefficient, age, and the thermal diffusion length. Methods of measuring these parameters are well known.