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PUBLICATIONS

Pre-conceptual Design Activities of the NIST Neutron Source: Simulations of Neutron Beam Characteristics of the Proposed NIST Neutron Source

Published

Author(s)

Jeremy Cook, Charles Majkrzak, Hubert King

Abstract

This technical note is part of a series of notes describing preliminary analyses and planning for the pre-conceptual design of a reactor to replace, in due course, the National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR) at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. The replacement reactor, namely the NIST Neutron Source (NNS), is currently planned to be a 20 Megawatts thermal power, pool-type compact core, cooled and moderated by light water (H2O) and fueled with low-enriched U-10Mo. The core comprises nine fuel assemblies in a three-by-three square lattice encased in a chimney. It is surrounded by a heavy water (D2O) filled reflector tank that contains two liquid deuterium (LD2) cold neutron sources on opposite sides of the core. The report outlines preliminary studies undertaken to assess the thermal and cold neutron beam performance of a pre-conceptual design of the NNS. The results demonstrate the possibility and feasibility of significant performance enhancements of the NNS for a similar scale reactor core that builds on experience with the NBSR design. Further improvements and optimizations will be explored later as the NNS design evolves.
Citation
Technical Note (NIST TN) - 2284
Report Number
2284
Volume
2284
NIST Pub Series
Technical Note (NIST TN)
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2284
Local Download

Keywords

Cold Neutrons, Cold Neutron Sources, Neutron Guides, Neutron Research, Research Reactors, Thermal Neutrons
Neutron research

Citation

Cook, J. , Majkrzak, C. and King, H. (2024), Pre-conceptual Design Activities of the NIST Neutron Source: Simulations of Neutron Beam Characteristics of the Proposed NIST Neutron Source, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2284, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=956977 (Accessed October 9, 2025)

Issues

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Created February 27, 2024, Updated November 1, 2024
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