Investigation of Error Sources during Core Reactivity Measurements

Abstract

This paper describes an investigation of various sources of measurement errors potentially affecting zero power reactivity measurements. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the causes of observed measurement anomalies during several start up physics tests. The principle tool used in this investigation was a computer model which simulated the behavior of the core and instrumentation used during the tests. This simulator was designed to include several error sources which were turned on and off in an attempt to duplicate the observed anomalies.