Monte Carlo estimation of the dose and heating of cobalt adjuster rods irradiated in the CANDU 6 reactor core

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2005;116(1-4 Pt 2):69-72. doi: 10.1093/rpd/nci270.

Abstract

The present work is a part of a more complex project related to the replacement of the original stainless steel adjuster rods with cobalt assemblies in the CANDU 6 reactor core. The 60Co produced by 59Co irradiation could be used extensively in medicine and industry. The paper will mainly describe some of the reactor physics and safety requirements that must be carried into practice for the Co adjuster rods. The computations related to the neutronic equivalence of the stainless steel adjusters with the Co adjuster assemblies, as well as the estimations of the activity and heating of the irradiated cobalt rods, are performed using the Monte Carlo codes MCNP5 and MONTEBURNS 2.1. The activity values are used to evaluate the dose at the surface of the device designed to transport the cobalt adjusters.

MeSH terms

  • Cobalt Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Construction Materials / analysis*
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Linear Energy Transfer*
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Nuclear Reactors*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Protection / instrumentation*
  • Radiation Protection / methods
  • Radiometry / methods
  • Romania
  • Stainless Steel / analysis

Substances

  • Cobalt Radioisotopes
  • Stainless Steel