Delayed Neutrons and Feedbacks

in Nuclear Reactors
By
Dr. Sikander M. Mirza
Department of Physics & Applied Mathematics, PIEAS
Nilore, Islamabad 45650, Pakistan

http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postsm332704_How-stupid-was-that-.aspx

The Chain Reaction

Neutrons produced from a fission event
causing fission in a subsequent nuclear
interaction is typically called the fission chain
reaction.
In this reaction, heavy nucleus splits into
fission fragments which are energatically more
stable than the original heavy nucleus.

Nuclear fission & Fission Products

 A small fraction of neutrons (typically 0.65%)

emitted in the fission process are delayed by
up to several tens of seconds. The remaining
99.35% are released immediately upon fission
(prompt neutrons).
Nuclear reactors are operated in delayed
critical state where as Prompt Critical states
are used for un-controlled fission chain
reactions.

Reactor Operational Regime

Keff
Super-Critical
Keff = 1.006

Normal Operation

Delayed-Critical
Excess ReactivityNegative Feedbacks

Keff = 1.000

Sub-Critical

Fission neutron energy profile:

S(E) = 0.771(Ee-0.776E) 0.5

Fission Cross Sections

Doppler Broadening of Resonances

Doppler Resonance Broadening

Resonance broadening

Consequences of Nuclear Doppler Effect

As fuel heats up, the kinetic energy of U-238 and
U-235) atoms increases.
The thermal velocities lead to apparent
Doppler broadening of U-238 resonances which
results in enhanced absorption in U-238.
This reduces the number of neutrons available for
further fissions in U-235.
Consequently, the Doppler broadening results in
decrease in reactivity.

Temperature Rise and Feedbacks

www.safetyinengineering.com/

Reactivity Feedbacks

Source: www.nuceng.ca/br_space/class/Module3C_Temp&VoidJun21.pdf

Role of Delayed Neutrons

No Delayed Group + Doppler Feedback

Case: One Delayed Group + Doppler

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