NUCLEAR REACTOR OPERATOR TRAINING
NUKEFACTS ......... and fictions
last update April 6, 2010
For those of you who have been educated and trained in the conventional wisdom of reactor behavior, you are in for a real surprise, and perhaps a shock or two.
As of 9/25/01, this is a new index for the Nukefact essays, which are now grouped by subject matter rather than listed in chronological order. All Nukefact essays from the chronological list are included in this new index. The original chronological listing can be accessed under item #12.
- PRECURSOR and DELAYED NEUTRON PROPERTIES
a. Beta is NOT the delayed neutron (population) fraction. (8/28/96)
b. The Lambda Effective Diagram. (8/20/97)
- SOURCE MULTIPLICATION and CHAIN REACTIONS
a. Non-fission neutrons are NOT the principal neutron source. (4/2/96)
b. Source multiplication is NOT limited to the subcritical reactor. (2/28/97)
c. Chain reactions are NOT self-sustaining at criticality. (2/28/97)
d. Chernobyl: Ominous Activity Along the Pripyat ??? (4/16/97)
e. Chernobyl Flooding (7/23/00)
f. Prompt Criticality: a concept with false credentials (12/13/02)
- REACTIVITY
a. Reactivity does NOT determine the direction of power change. (2/28/97)
b. The Paradox in Expressing Nuclear Status: Delta-k versus Rho. (4/16/97)
c. Two Many Parameters for Defining Nuclear Status. (4/16/97)
d. NRC Rule Change Reactivity Management (9/9/00)
e. A Non-Fission Neutron Source Has No Reactivity Worth (3/6/01)
- REACTOR MODELS
a. The Neutron Lifecycle Model - a Blessing and a Curse (2/16/01)
b. The Many Models of Reactor Behavior. (12/7/97)
c. How A Nuclear Reactor Works. (4/16/97)
- REACTOR RATE
a. The Reactor Rate Diagram. (3/2/97)
b. Determining Reactor Rate from the Reactor Rate Diagram. (3/16/97)
c. Again: Two Contributors to Reactor Rate. (3/16/97)
d. More Reactor Rate Examples ... Using The Reactor Rate Diagram. (4/3/97)
e. Reactor Rate Behavior With Time During Reactivity Ramp. (4/3/97)
f. The Reactor Rate Diagram for the Sub-Critical Region. (4/8/97)
g. The General Reactor Rate Diagram. (4/8/97)
h. The Reactor Rate Diagram in the Power Range. (4/16/97)
i. Prompt Jump is NOT Reactor Rate Response. (7/4/97)
j. The 1300% Error in Reactor Startup Rate. (7/26/97)
k. Power Reversal in the Delayed-Critical Region. (9/10/98)
- THE BALANCE EQUATIONS
a. The Balance Equations Deliver Unique Insights about Reactor Behavior. (5/29/04)
b. The Neutron Balance Equation - One of Two Equations Essential for Defining Reactor Behavior.
c. The Precursor Balance Equation - The second of Two Equations Essential for Defining Reactor Behavior.
d. The General Equation for Reactor Power - Valid for k-effective values beyond prompt criticality.
e. The General Equation for Precursor Inventory - Valid for k-effective values beyond prompt criticality.
f. Prompt Jump - Using a Step Change in Reactivity to Create a Transient Situation.
g. The Delayed Neutron Population Fraction - Remains Finite for the Super-Prompt Critical Condition.
h. Source Multiplication - Applies for All Possible Reactor Conditions.
i. K-eff Modified - For Prompt Neutron Propagation of the Chain Reaction in Transient Situations.
j. The Reactor Period Equation - For All Possible Stable Reactor Rates
k. The In-Hr Equation - Derived from the Balance Equations
- OPERATIONAL TRANSIENTS
a. Power Doubling in Reactor Startup. (6/25/97)
b. The Minimum Possible Startup Power Level at Rho = 0. (7/15/97)
c. The Anatomy of Reactor Scram. (10/15/98)
d. Inverse Multiplication and Fuel Loading: Part I - Fundamentals (11/27/98)
e. Inverse Multiplication and Fuel Loading: Part II - Application (5/25/01)
- INPO GENERIC FUNDAMENTALS CATALOG - ERRONEOUS TEST ITEMS
a. Wholesale Technical Error in Reactor Theory Training (9/25/00)
b. Erroneous Questions And/Or Answers In Test Banks - I. (4/3/97)
c. Erroneous Questions And/Or Answers In Test Banks - II. (4/3/97)
d. Neutrons (6/3/99)
e. Neutron Life Cycle (6/16/99)
f. Reactor Kinetics and Neutron Sources (7/13/99)
g. Erroneous Test Items - Reactivity Coefficients (7/26/99)
h. Control Rods (8/14/99)
i. Fission Product Poisons (10/23/99)
j. Fuel Depletion and Burnable Poisons (11/26/99)
k. Reactor Operational Physics (2/22/00)
- NRC GFE BWR QUESTION BANK - ERRONEOUS EXAM QUESTIONS
a. Sixty-Four Reasons why NRC Reactor Theory is Fallacy (11/01/01)
b. Neutrons (3/13/01)
c. Neutron Life Cycle (4/02/01)]
d. Reactor Kinetics (3/16/01)
e. Reactivity Coefficients (3/23/01)
f. Control Rods (3/25/01)
g. Fission Product Poison (3/25/01)
h. Fuel Depletion (3/30/01)
i. Operational Physics (3/30/01)
- NRC GFE PWR QUESTION BANK - ERRONEOUS EXAM QUESTIONS
a. Neutrons (4/02/01)
b. Neutron Life Cycle (4/02/01)
c. Reactor Kinetics (4/05/01)
d. Reactivity Coefficients (4/05/01)
e. Control Rods (4/05/01)
f. Fission Product Poison (4/05/01)
g. Fuel Depletion (4/05/01)
h. Operational Physics (4/05/01)
- THE DOE FUNDMENTAL HANDBOOK - TECHNICAL ERROR
a. Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory (7/04/01)
- USING PERSONAL COMPUTERS TO ENHANCE CLASSROOM TRAINING
a. Upgrade While Downsizing - Using Standardized Excellence. (4/3/97)
b. The Personal Computer - A Powerful Educational Tool. (4/8/97)
c. Technology-Delivered Instruction and the Quality of Training. (4/8/97)
d. Real Time Demonstration Energizes ClassRoom Learning. (4/8/97)
e. Hands-On Learning Can Double Learning Effectiveness! (4/8/97)
- ORIGINAL CHRONOLOGICAL NUKEFACTS INDEX
a. Nukefacts and Fictions - chronological listing of essays (9/17/04)
b. Future Essays and Coming Attractions. (3/16/97)
Please submit any comments, or questions, on the topics presented to R.G. Stater by e-mail.