Controlled Fission

• 235U + n  X + Y + (~2.4)n Fast second generation neutrons

• Moderation of second generation neutrons  Chain reaction.
• Water, D2O or graphite moderator.
• Ratio of number of “neutrons” (fissions) in one generation to
the preceding  k (neutron reproduction or multiplication
factor).
Infinite medium (ignoring leakage at the surface).

• k  1  Chain reaction.
Chain reacting pile
• k < 1  subcritical.
• k = 1  critical system.
• k > 1  supercritical.
For steady release of energy (steady-
state operation) we need k =1.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 1
(Saed Dababneh).
 Controlled Fission
• Average number of all neutrons released per fission
  (for thermal neutrons, 0.0253 eV).
• 233U : 2.492

• 235U : 2.418

• 239Pu : 2.871

• 241Pu : 2.927

• Reactor is critical (k = 1): rate of neutrons produced

by fission = rate of neutrons absorbed + leaked.
Size and composition of the reactor.
 Controlled Fission
235U thermal cross sections Probability for a thermal neutron to
cause fission on 235U is
fission  584 b.
scattering  9 b.
f 1
 
radiative capture  97 b.  f   1 

If each fission produces an average of  neutrons, then the mean

number of fission neutrons produced per thermal neutron = 

f f 
     <
a  f   1 

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 (Saed 3

Dababneh).
 Controlled Fission
• Assume natural uranium: 235U
99.2745% 238U, 0.7200% 235U.
Thermal f = 0 b 584 b
Thermal  = 2.75 b 97 b 4R 2

   x   y  N x x  N y y
 ( x x   y y ) N
238U
• f / N = (0.992745)(0) + Doppler effect?
(0.0072)(584) 4R 2
= 4.20 b.
•  / N = (0.992745)(2.75) +
(0.0072)(97)
= 3.43 b. Using the experimental elastic
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 scattering data the radius of the 4
(Saed Dababneh). nucleus can be estimated.
Moderation (to compare x-section)
2H 1H
(n,n) (n,n)

(n,) (n,)

• Resonances?
 Controlled Fission
• Probability for a thermal neutron to cause fission in natural
uranium 4.20
  0.55
4.20  3.43
• If each fission produces an average of  = 2.4 neutrons, then the
mean number of fission neutrons produced per thermal neutron =
 = 2.4 x 0.55  1.3
• This is close to 1. If neutrons are still to be lost, there is a danger
of losing criticality. (Heavy water?).
• For enriched uranium (235U = 3%)  = ????? (> 1.3). (Light
water?).
• In this case  is further from 1 and allowing for more neutrons to
be lost while maintaining criticality.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 6
(Saed Dababneh).
 Controlled Fission
HW 11
1
• Verify 
a
 (i)
i
f (i )

• Comment on the calculation for thermal neutrons

and a mixture of fissile and non-fissile materials,
giving an example.
• Comment for fast neutrons and a mixture of
fissionable materials, giving an example.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 (Saed 7

Dababneh).
 Conversion and Breeding

Converters: Convert non-thermally-fissionable material

to a thermally-fissionable material.
_
U  n U 
238 239 23min 239
Np    

_


2.3d 239
Pu    


f,th = 742 b
_
232
Th  n233Th 22  233Pa     
min
_
27

 d 233
U    
f,th = 530 b
Nuclear Reactors, BAU,1st
Semester, 2007-2008 8
(Saed Dababneh).
 Conversion and Breeding

• If  = 2  Conversion and fission.

• If  > 2  Breeder reactor.
• 239Pu: Thermal neutrons ( = 2.1)  hard for breeding.
Fast neutrons ( = 3)  possible breeding  fast
breeder reactors.

After sufficient time of breeding, fissile material can be easily

(chemically) separated from fertile material.
Compare to separating 235U from 238U.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 9

(Saed Dababneh).
 Controlled Fission
• N thermal neutrons in one generation have produced so far N
fast neutrons.
• Some of these fast neutrons can cause 238U fission  more fast
neutrons  fast fission factor =  (= 1.03 for natural uranium).
• Now we have N fast neutrons.
• We need to moderate these fast neutrons  use graphite  for 2
MeV neutrons we need ??? collisions. How many for 1 MeV
neutrons?
• The neutron will pass through the 10 - 100 eV region during the
moderation process. This energy region has many strong 238U
capture resonances (up to ????? b)  Can not mix uranium and
graphite as powders.
• In graphite, an average distance of 19 cm is needed for
thermalization  the resonance escape probability p ( 0.9).
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 10
(Saed Dababneh).
 Controlled Fission
• Now we have pN thermal neutrons.
• Graphite must not be too large to capture thermal neutrons;
when thermalized, neutrons should have reached the fuel.
• Graphite thermal cross section = 0.0034 b, but there is a lot
of it present.
• Capture can also occur in the material encapsulating the fuel
elements.
• The thermal utilization factor f ( 0.9) gives the fraction of
thermal neutrons that are actually available for the fuel.
• Now we have fpN thermal neutrons, could be > or < N
thus determining the criticality of the reactor.
 k = fp The four-factor formula.
k = fp(1-lfast)(1-lthermal)
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 11
(Saed Dababneh). Fractions lost at surface
 Neutron
reproduction
factor
k = 1.000
x 0.9
Thermal
utilization x
factor “f”

x 0.9
Resonance
escape
probability ”p”
What is:
• Migration length? x 1.03
Fast fission
• Critical size? factor “”
How does the
geometry affect the
reproduction factor?

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2007-2008 12

(Saed Dababneh).