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Experimental Investigation of Accelerator Driven Nuclear Reactors for Thorium Based Nuclear Power
Zeman, Miroslav ; ČR,, Milan Štefánik, UJF AV (referee) ; Katovský, Karel (advisor)
The Master Thesis deals with the use of thorium nuclear fuel in accelerator driven systems. Basic principle of ADS, present situation and future possibilities are described in this work. The main goal of the work is determination of neutron flux in spallation target QUINTA. In December 2013, an experiment was performed at Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna. Samples of cobalt, situated at different positions in QUINTA target, were irradiated in secondary neutron field generated by deuteron beam of energies 2 AGeV and 4 AGeV and beam of C-12 with energy 2 AGeV. The samples were measured with the use of germanium semiconductor detectors and analysed using gamma-ray spectrometry. Reaction rates of Co-59 products were determined. Neutron flux was determined in setup QUINTA on the base of experimental reaction rates. Experimental reaction rates were compared with calcula1tion of MCNPX code.
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Investigation of Thorium Utilization in Accelerator Driven Nuclear Reactors
Král, Dušan ; ČR, Petr Chudoba, ÚJF AV (referee) ; Zeman, Miroslav (advisor)
This thesis deals with the idea of using accelerator driven systems for thorium transmutation into the fissile material, which can be utilized in the accelerator driven systems and in thermal nuclear reactors. Thorium occurs on Earth only in fertile isotope Th-232. It can be converted to fissile U-233 by neutron capture and subsequent beta decay. The experimental part handles the data measured by the irradiation of four thorium samples by the secondary neutrons in the QUINTA spallation target, which was irradiated with 660~MeV protons. Reaction rates for the fission and spallation products were estimated using gamma spectroscopy and activation techniques. Furthermore, Pa-233 production rates were also determined in all experimental samples. Pa-233 and fission production rates were calculated in all experimental samples using the MCNPX transport code and evaluated nuclear data for high-energy reactions. The experimental results are of a great importance for the future investigation of thorium in the accelerator driven system concept, validation of Monte-Carlo based calculation codes and validation of high-energy nuclear models.
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The contents of caesium-137 in different soil types in selected locations in CR
ČADOVÁ, Michaela
Caesium-137 is one of the major artificial radioactive elements, whose sources are atmospheric nuclear tests carried out in the 20th century and nuclear power plant incidents such as Chernobyl. Because of uneven precipitation, there were significant differences in radioactive fallout levels in different areas of the Czech Republic during the passage of the radioactive cloud from Chernobyl. Due to the high solubility of Caesium-137 in water and easy distribution in the environment, there is contamination of the lower soil levels where the plant root systems are located. The aim of this work is to collect soil samples from selected localities, where in 1986 significant contamination was detected as originating from Chernobyl, determination of their Caesium-137 content by gamma semiconductor spectrometry and comparison depending on the type of soil. The research question was set as: Does Caesium-137 content differ in different soil types? As part of this study, samples of uncultivated agricultural land and forest land were collected from layers 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 cm in Kvilda, Zadov and Churanov. For comparison, results were also collected from a locality where the radioactive fallout was not so significant. This locality is around the village Straz nad Nezarkou, which is found on the protected nature reserves of Trebon. From the results of measuring the soil it was found that even after thirty years since the Chernobyl disaster occurred, Caesium-137 is still found in the upper layers of soils, specifically to depths of 5 cm. The highest specific activity of Caesium-137 was measured in the forest soils in Zadov at depths of 0-5 cm (364 Bq.kg-1) from the total range of all samples, 2,24 Bq.kg-1 to 364 Bq.kg-1. The highest specific activity of potassium K-40 was measured in uncultivated agricultural land in the locality of Kvilda at depths of 0-5 cm (883 Bq.kg-1).
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Investigation of Thorium Utilization in Accelerator Driven Nuclear Reactors
Král, Dušan ; ČR, Petr Chudoba, ÚJF AV (referee) ; Zeman, Miroslav (advisor)
This thesis deals with the idea of using accelerator driven systems for thorium transmutation into the fissile material, which can be utilized in the accelerator driven systems and in thermal nuclear reactors. Thorium occurs on Earth only in fertile isotope Th-232. It can be converted to fissile U-233 by neutron capture and subsequent beta decay. The experimental part handles the data measured by the irradiation of four thorium samples by the secondary neutrons in the QUINTA spallation target, which was irradiated with 660~MeV protons. Reaction rates for the fission and spallation products were estimated using gamma spectroscopy and activation techniques. Furthermore, Pa-233 production rates were also determined in all experimental samples. Pa-233 and fission production rates were calculated in all experimental samples using the MCNPX transport code and evaluated nuclear data for high-energy reactions. The experimental results are of a great importance for the future investigation of thorium in the accelerator driven system concept, validation of Monte-Carlo based calculation codes and validation of high-energy nuclear models.
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Experimental Investigation of Accelerator Driven Nuclear Reactors for Thorium Based Nuclear Power
Zeman, Miroslav ; ČR,, Milan Štefánik, UJF AV (referee) ; Katovský, Karel (advisor)
The Master Thesis deals with the use of thorium nuclear fuel in accelerator driven systems. Basic principle of ADS, present situation and future possibilities are described in this work. The main goal of the work is determination of neutron flux in spallation target QUINTA. In December 2013, an experiment was performed at Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna. Samples of cobalt, situated at different positions in QUINTA target, were irradiated in secondary neutron field generated by deuteron beam of energies 2 AGeV and 4 AGeV and beam of C-12 with energy 2 AGeV. The samples were measured with the use of germanium semiconductor detectors and analysed using gamma-ray spectrometry. Reaction rates of Co-59 products were determined. Neutron flux was determined in setup QUINTA on the base of experimental reaction rates. Experimental reaction rates were compared with calcula1tion of MCNPX code.
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Contents od caesium-137 in mushrooms
ČADOVÁ, Michaela
The aim of this work is to compare the presence of Cs-137 in different kinds of mushrooms in selected locations using semiconductor gamma-ray spectrometry. Research question was determined: Does Cs-137 content amount vary depending on the fungal species? The first part deals with basic knowledge of ionizing radiation, which is important for the complex understanding of thematic problems. This concerns basic radiobiological terms such as radioactivity, ionizing radiation, its biological effects and basic units and quantities used in radiobiology and radiation protection. Further I deal with the above mentioned measured radionuclide Cs 137, which resources in our country include the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident and tests of nuclear weapons in the 20th century. I also pay attention to this element in the cycle of nature, its distribution in the body and the effects on our environment. Shortly I even deal with basic knowledge of the Cs-137 accumulation in mushrooms. Another point mentioned is the research methodology, a brief introduction to semiconductor gamma spectrometry. As sampling sites I selected Zadov, Churáňov and Kvilda in Šumava, where in 1986 there was detected the biggest radiation fallout. For comparison, I also measured samples of mushrooms from localities of less significant fallout. These are sites around a village of Příbraz and in the woods of Jemčina within Třeboň region. A total of 26 mushroom samples were taken. Mass activity was measured by semiconductor gamma spectrometry in the Regional Center of the State Office for Nuclear Safety in České Budejovice. In addition to Cs 137 there was also measured a content of a natural isotope Potassium-40. It is a Cs 137 chemical homologue, which has similar properties and is present homogeneously throughout the whole ecosystem. For comparison I also measured mass activity of other forest ecosystem components such as moss, bark, cones and ground. Measuring time of the mushroom samples was for about 24 hours. The other forest ecosystem components measuring time ranged from 24 to 48 hours. The measured spectra were analysed by using the GAMAT software tool. The highest measured mass activity of Cs-137 was detected in a pine bolete sample from the site of Churanov in Sumava (4 265 Bq.kg-1). Also Russula emetica from Zadov shows relatively high activity (3 050 Bq.kg-1). The smallest amount of Cs 137 was measured in Cystolepiota high, originating in the locality of Jemčina in Třeboň region (5.6 Bq.kg-1) and in a sample of Lactarius volemus from the nearby village Příbraz (34.7 Bq.kg-1). The highest mass activity of natural radionuclide K-40 was measured in a sample of blusher from the village Příbraz site (4 329 Bq.kg-1). High value was probably caused by the use of fertilizers or pesticides near this sample. Large number of K-40 was also seen in Laccaria amethystina, also coming from the village Příbraz (2 901 Bq.kg-1). On the contrary, the least of this element was found in Cystolepiota high sample from Jemčina forests (971.8 Bq.kg-1) and in Lactarius volemus from Příbraz (999,6 Bq.kg-1). According to the measured values, we can conclude that the measured mass activity differs a lot. Individual sites may have different values because of uneven rainfalls in our country at the time of the radioactive cloud passage after the Chernobyl explosion. However, specific species of fungi from the same sites differ, which is due, inter alia, to soil characteristics and mycelium depth. The results correspond to the fact that the mushroom-shaped fungi show a greater amount of Cs-137 unlike gilled fungi presented as well by other authors.
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