Examination of the 2x2 SiO{sub 2}, Al, and Fe Experiments Mixed with Highly Enriched Uranium on the Thermal Energy Region

The basic characteristics of waste materials such as silicon dioxide, aluminum, and iron fueled with highly enriched uranium (HEU) and moderated and reflected by polyethylene were investigated. These critical experiments were performed at the Los Alamos Criticality Experiments Facility. The primary...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear science and engineering 2003-10, Vol.145 (2)
Main Authors: Loaiza, David J., Sanchez, Rene
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ALUMINIUM
CRITICALITY
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
IRON
MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
MULTIPLICATION FACTORS
POLYETHYLENES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SILICON OXIDES
TANKS
WASTE STORAGE
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Summary:The basic characteristics of waste materials such as silicon dioxide, aluminum, and iron fueled with highly enriched uranium (HEU) and moderated and reflected by polyethylene were investigated. These critical experiments were performed at the Los Alamos Criticality Experiments Facility. The primary intention of these experiments is to provide supplementary data that can be used to validate and improve criticality data for the Yucca Mountain and the Hanford Storage Waste Tanks Projects. The secondary intention of the 2x2 experiments is to reduce the H/U ratio and increase the waste material/U ratio from previously published experiments. These experiments were designed to supply data for interlaced waste material/fuel/moderator systems on the thermal region. The experiments contained silicon dioxide (SiO{sub 2}), aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) mixed with 93.23% enriched uranium and moderated and reflected by polyethylene. This analysis systematically examines uncertainties associated with the critical experiments as they affect the calculated multiplication factor. The systematic analysis is separated into uncertainties due to mass measurements, uncertainties due to fabrication, and uncertainties due to composition. Each type of uncertainty is analyzed individually, and a total combined uncertainty is derived. The SiO{sub 2}-HEU experiment had a measured k{sub eff} of 0.993, the Al-HEU experiment had a measured k{sub eff} of 0.990, and the Fe-HEU experiment had a measured k{sub eff} of 1.000. The calculated k{sub eff} values tend to agree well with the experimental values. The sensitivity analysis of these critical experiments yielded a total combined uncertainty on the measured k{sub eff} of {+-}0.0044 for SiO{sub 2}, of {+-}0.0048 for Al, and of {+-}0.0046 for Fe.
ISSN:0029-5639
1943-748X