Recent developments in the field of coupled reactor physics – thermal hydraulics codes (multiphysics codes) would require that high quality, high resolution measurements are available as benchmarks. As the number of nuclear facilities available for setting up such benchmark-quality measurements have significantly decreased in the last two decades, small reactors still operating are appreciated even higher. BME Training Reactor is a facility that can serve this purpose. However, new measurements and plenty of modelling work are needed before benchmark-quality results can be published.

The PhD programme is aimed at the development of a new measurement programme and corresponding calculational models. For that, an unused (fresh) fuel assembly of the Training Reactor should be equipped with properly designed measuring equipment. Measurements of neutron flux both using passive methods, such as activation detectors in different energy range sensitivity and active methods, such as sub-miniature fission chambers will be used. Moreover, thermal measurements should also be developed, consisting of thermo-couples or similar devices. In order to unerstand and validate the behaviour of such devices, the Particle Image Velocimetry Laboratory of BME NTI is fully accessible, along with the newly constructed thermal-hydraulics model of a fuel assembly of the BME Training Reactor. Before the actual measurements may be possible, the entire licencing process for the new instrumented assembly will have to be carried out, including a qualification programme for the test assembly. Modelling details of the instrumented fuel assembly, as well as the entire reactor, with proper safety analysis, along with the determination of radiation protection related quantities will have to be included in the licencing documents. After the procedure is finished, the measurements will be performed. Calculations with a high-resolution multi-physics code (to be specified later) will be performed and the results evaluated compared with the measurements. The modelling part is carried out in close cooperation with EPFL Lausanne / PSI Villigen and GRS Müchen, while EPFL Lausanne is also going to provide new detector types for neutron flux measurements.

The PhD programme is carried out in frame of the EU/Euratom research programme EVEREST. As such, the PhD student will have access to measuring instruments provided by the grant and by other consortium partners. The student will have to participate in the life of the project (meetings etc.), which require good active communication skills. Moreover, the PhD student will also have the opportunity to spend some time of the PhD programme at one of the project's collaborating parners. The PhD student will publish the scientific results of the development outlined obove in leading papers of the nuclear field.