Results of Experiments under the Physical Start-Up Program of the IVG.1M Reactor

Abstract

In 2022, the physical start-up stage of the IVG.1M research reactor was successfully completed, initiated by reducing the fuel enrichment of 235U. This phase included the loading of nuclear fuel into the reactor core and conducting experiments to determine the neutron-physical characteristics of the reactor. Prior to the physical start-up, preliminary calculations were performed using the computational code MCNP6 and a full-scale model of the IVG.1M reactor with low-enriched uranium fuel (LEU). During the start-up series, the reactivity worth curves of the reactor control and protection system’s operating and compensating elements were determined. Additionally, experiments were performed to measure the reactivity effects of technological channel draining and to obtain activation reaction rates in the central experimental channel using nickel and gold activation indicators. The results of determining the neutron-physical characteristics of the IVG.1M reactor have confirmed the operability of the reactor core with LEU fuel.