determination of neutron fluxes and spectrum shaping factors in irradiation sites of ghana’s miniature neutron source reactor (mnsr) by activation method after compensation of loss of excess reactivty英文论文.pdfVIP

World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 2011, 1, 50-56 doi:10.4236/wjnst.2011.12009 Published Online July 2011 (/journal/wjnst) Determination of Neutron Fluxes and Spectrum Shaping Factors in Irradiation Sites of Ghana’s Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (mnsr) by Activation Method after Compensation of Loss of Excess Reactivty 2* 1 1 2 R. B. M. Sogbadji , B. J. B. Nyarko , E. H. K. Akaho , R. G. Abrefah 1School of Nuclear and Allied Science, University of Ghana, Atomic Energy, Accra , Ghana 2 Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, National Nuclear Research Institute, Legon, Ghana E-mail : robertmauko@ Received March 21, 2011; revised April 20, 2011; accepted May 27, 2011 Abstract Accurate neutron flux values in irradiation channels of research reactors are very essential to their usage. The total neutron flux of the Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1) was measured after a beryllium reflector was added to its shim to compensate for excess reactivity loss. The thermal, epithermal and fast neutron fluxes were determined by the method of foil activation. The experimental samples with and without a cad- mium cover of 1-mm thickness were irradiated in the isotropic neutron field of the irradiation sites of Ghana Research Reactor-1 facility. The induced activities in the sample were measured by gamma ray spectrometry with a high purity germanium detector. The necessary correction for gamma attenuation, thermal neutrons and resonance neutron self-shielding effects were taken into account during the experimental analysis. By defining cadmium cutoff energy of 0.55 eV, Al-0.1% Au wires of negligible thickness were irradiated at 3 kW to determine the ne