Simulation of Thorium Irradiation In the TRIGA 2000 Reactor Core For 233U Isotope Production Rasito1,2, S. Permana1, P. Ilham Y.1, P. Sukmabuana2, Tri Cahyo2, A. Suherman2
1 Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jl. Ganeca 10, Bandung, Indonesia
2Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Tamansari 71, Bandung, Indonesia
Abstract
Simulation of Thorium irradiation has been carried out for the 233U production in the TRIGA 2000 reactor core using MCNPX and ORIGEN codes. Simulations were carried out to determine the number of isotopes of 233U produced and evaluate the irradiation effect of the TRIGA 2000 reactor core on the effective multiplication factor (keff) value. Simulation was done by modeling a dummy rod containing ThO2 placed in positions of G4, E8 and A1. The ThO2 rods are irradiated at 2 MW continuously until the reactor stops. The initial conditions of the model are made with all of the fuel in fresh conditions. The MCNPX calculations of keff parameter of the reactor decreasing from 1.103 to 1.102 for the position of ThO2 at G4, 1.097 for the position of ThO2 at E8, and 1.093 for the position of ThO2 at A1. In the modeling, there is no refueling so that the operating time of the TRIGA reactor with 87 fresh fuels up to 510 days. With the operating time the isotope 233U produced 0.07% for the G4 position, 0.3% for the E8 position, and 0.8% for the A1 position.
