Estimation of control rod worth, xenon effect on reactivity and power defect of BAEC TRIGA Mark-II research reactor

In this work, control rod worth, xenon (Xe) effect on reactivity and power defect have been measured by doing experiments in the BAEC TRIGA Mark-II research reactor (BTRR) and through established theoretical analysis. Firstly, to study the xenon-135 effect on reactivity, reactor is critical at 2.4 MW for several hours. Next, experiments have been performed at very low power (50 W) to avoid temperature effects. Moreover, for the power defect experiment, different increasing power level has been tested by withdrawing the control rods. Finally, it is concluded that the total control rods worth of the BAEC TRIGA Mark-II research reactor, as determined through this study, is enough to run the reactor at full power (3 MW) considering the xenon-135 and fuel temperature effects.