Experimental and MCNP calculations of neutron flux parameters in irradiation channel at Es-Salam reactor

The Algerian research reactor (Es-Salam) is a 15 MW heavy water reactor type, operating since 1992. It became essential to characterize the neutron field in the most useful irradiation positions, in order to guarantee the accuracy in the application of k ₀-neutron activation analysis (k ₀-NAA). Experimental value of the thermal to epithermal neutron flux ratio (f) and of the deviation of the epithermal neutron spectrum from 1/E shape (α) were determined using different methods. This work focuses the verification of Monte Carlo neutron flux calculation in typical irradiation channel. Comparison of the results for parameter f obtained experimentally and by Monte Carlo simulations shows good agreement in the irradiation channel studied. The difference between both results is about 2.08%.