Measurement of the heat power generated by decay of fission products in fuel assemblies of the IEA-R1 research reactor

Abstract

Fuel assemblies of the IEA-R1 research reactor were probed in calorimetric experiments. A special calorimeter was commissioned for that purpose. A theoretical model was proposed for the calorimeter. The fuel assemblies EC214, EC210 and EC207 were probed with cooling times ranging from 22 hours to 1043 days and declared U235 burnup ratios ranging from 36 % to 45 %. Decay heat power was measured in the range of 4,1 W to 90 W, within ±5 % uncertainty. Because decay heat power is closely correlated to the actual inventory of fission products, the calorimeter was proven suited for enhancing non-destructive characterization of irradiated fuel assemblies.