SCALE modeling of foil irradiations at WSU's TRIGA with sensitivity/uncertainty analysis

The Washington State University TRIGA reactor was modeled in the SCALE system's KENO neutron transport code. The model includes 119 fuel rods, a central boral control rod, 4 control blades, 5 irradiation ports, and 20 graphite reflector blocks within a rectangular aluminum grid box. The model accurately simulated the irradiation of depleted uranium and highly enriched uranium foils and predicted reaction rate ratios for U-238(n,2n)U-237 / U-238(n,gamma)U-239 and Mo-99 / fission, which compared favorably to empirical values previously measured at Los Alamos. Finally, a sensitivity/uncertainty analysis was performed using the continuous-energy TSUNAMI-3D module of SCALE.

Automated summary

The Washington State University TRIGA reactor was successfully modeled and analyzed using the KENO and TSUNAMI-3D modules of the SCALE system. The model accurately simulated the behavior of different types of fuel in the reactor, and a sensitivity/uncertainty analysis was performed.