Four Factor Formula Final
Four Factor Formula Final
Four Factor Formula Final
CRITICALITY
therefore the only alternate is to reduce various causes responsible for the neutron losses in the given assembly of fissionable material IT IS BENEFICIAL TO CONSIDER INITIALLY THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY TOWARDS GROWTH OF NEUTRON IN A MULTIPLYING MEDIUM
POSITIVE TERMS (TEND TO INCREASE THE NEUTRON POPULATION) ( THE THERMAL REPRODUCTION ) The neutrons escaping the resonance absorption region are available for further interaction with the fissile fuel (# fast neutrons produced due to thermal fission) Reproduction factor = -----------------------------------------------------------------------(# thermal neutrons absorbed in the fuel) as probability of fission with decreasing En & approaches 580 barn at 0.0253 eV (figure). There is a good probability that these are absorbed in fissile material and cause fission
POSITIVE TERMS (TEND TO INCREASE THE NEUTRON POPULATION) ( THE FAST FISSION ) When neutron are released in fission they have an average energy of 2MeV (fast neutrons) Since energies > threshold energy of U-238 (1.1 MeV) these fast neutron may cause fission in U-238 causing a release of neutron hence contributing positively in neutron population growth
= (#n emitted by fast fissions + #n emitted by thermal fissions) / (#n emitted by thermal fissions ) = (Total Fissions) / (Thermal Fissions)
Usually fission probability is not that much as comp. to inelastic scattering or absorption therefore contribution is not substantial as maximum probability obvious from the figure is in the range of about 0.4 to 2 barns.
NEGATIVE TERMS (TEND TO DECREASE THE NEUTRON POPULATION) ( THE CAPTURE TO FISSION RATIO ) Neutron of any energy region may be captured by U-235 or U-238 without causing fission The types of such an interactions are those such as (n, ), (n,p), (n, ) or (n, D)
f/ a
such as thermal and fast neutrons then the probability is defined for these energies
The leakage probability primarily depends upon size and shape of the core assembly
f = (Thermal neutrons absorbed in the fuel) /( thermal neutron absorbed in the whole system)
MAJOR DOMINATING FACTORS Normally the major dominating factor out of these are neutron absorption due to resonance peaks in epithermal region In order to counter its effect an option is to reduce the quantity of U-238 so that
Suppose there are no thermal neutrons initially available for capture in fissionable material
If is the average number of fast fission neutrons released as a result of capture of one
Fuel U-235
= 1.33
no
no
Fuel U-235
= 1.33 = 1.05
no
no
no
= 1.33 = 1.05
PFNL=0.95
no
no
no
no
PFNL
140 fast neutrons 7 fast leakage 133 Probability fast PFL= 0.05 neutrons
Fuel U-235
= 1.33
= 1.05
PFNL=0.95 p=0.90
PTNL=0.95
no
no
no
no
PFNL
no
p PFNL
no
pPFNPTNL
140 fast neutrons 7 fast leakage 133 Probability fast PFL= 0.05 neutrons
Fuel U-235
= 1.33
Thermal
Utrilization
Factor
= 1.05
PFNL=0.95 p=0.90
PTNL=0.95
f=0.90
no
no
no
no
PFNL
no
p PFNL
no
pPFNPTNL
no
pPFNPTNLf