ANALYSIS OF GAMMA HEATING AT TRIGA MARK REACTOR CORE BANDUNG USING PLATE TYPE FUEL

ABSTRACT

In accordance with the discontinuation of TRIGA fuel element production by its producer, the operation of all TRIGA type reactor of at all over the word will be disturbed, as well as TRIGA reactor in Bandung. In order to support the continuous operation of Bandung TRIGA reactor, a study on utilization of fuel plate mode, as used at RSG-GAS reactor, to replace the cylindrical model has been done. Various assessments have been done, including core design calculation and its safety aspects. Based on the neutronic calculation, utilization of fuel plate shows that Bandung TRIGA reactor can be operated by 20 fuel elements only. Compared with the original core, the new reactor core configuration is smaller and it results in some empty space that can be used for in-core irradiation facilities. Due to the existing of in-core irradiation facilities, the gamma heating value became a new factor that should be evaluated for safety analysis. For this reason, the gamma heating for TRIGA Bandung reactor using fuel plate was calculated by Gamset computer code. The calculations based on linear attenuation equations, line sources and gamma propagation on space. Calculations were also done for reflector positions (Lazy Susan irradiation facilities) and central irradiation position (CIP), especially for any material samples. The calculation results show that gamma heating for CIP is significantly important (0,87 W/g), but very low value for Lazy Susan position (lest then 0,11 W/g). Based on this results, it can be concluded that the utilization of CIP as irradiation facilities need to consider of gamma heating as data for safety analysis report.

Keywords: gamma heating, nuclear reactor, research reactor, reactor safety.

ABSTRAK

Dengan dihentikannya produksi elemen bakar reaktor jenis Triga oleh produsen, maka semua reaktor TRIGA di dunia terganggu operasinya, termasuk juga reaktor TRIGA 2000 di Bandung. Untuk mendukung pengoperasian reaktor TRIGA Bandung, telah dilakukan kajian penggunaan bahan bakar jenis pelat seperti yang digunakan oleh RSG-GAS. Berbagai langkah analisis telah disiapkan, termasuk perhitungan desain teras, dan sistem keselamatannya. Penggunaan elemen bakar tipe pelat menghasilkkan reaktor dapat dioperasikan hanya dengan 20 elemen bakar. Dibandingkan teras aslinya, nampak bahwa teras baru menjadi lebih kecil dan kompak, rapat dayanya naik, tetapi menyisakan beberapa ruang kosong yang dimungkinkan untuk menempatkan fasilitas iradiasi di teras. Dengan adanya fasilitas iradiasi di dalam teras, maka pembangkitan panas gamma di teras menjadi faktor baru yang harus diperhatikan. Untuk alasan ini, telah dilakukan perhitungan pembangkitan panas gamma teras reaktor Triga 2000 Bandung mengunakan program Gamset. Perhitungan didasarkan pada persamaan atenuasi liner, sumber garis dan arah perambatan tiga dimensi. Selain panas gamma di teras, akan dihitung juga panas gamma di reflektor (Lazy Susan), dan di CIP untuk berbagai jenis bahan. Diperoleh hasil bahwa panas gamma di CIP cukup signifikan (0,87 w/g), tetapi di posisi Lazy Susan relatif kecil, rata-rata hanya 0,11 w/g. Dari hasil tersebut dapat disimpulkan bahwa penggunaan CIP untuk iradiasi perlu mempertimbangkan panas gamma dalam perhitungan LAK nya.

Kata kunci: panas gamma, reaktor nuklir, reaktor penelitian, keselamatan reaktor