Study of the physical characteristics of the BN-350 reactor on starting

1. Analyses of the static physical characteristics revealed during the starting of the BN-350 reactor have for the first time enabled the methods of predicting these characteristics to be verified under the trueservice condition of a fast power reactor. 2. These measurements show that, during the development and establishment of the reactor, the physical characteristics were determined to a reasonable accuracy. This facilitated the entry of the reactor into initial power production. When the reactor is being used at full power it will be possible to determine the power reactivity effect and the effect of fuel burn-up, to evaluate the adequacy of the reactivity compensation system, and to determine the period of continuous operation. 3. The set of computing data thus obtained, together with the results of measurements carried out on model critical assemblies and the reactor itself, offer new prospects for analyzing the accuracy of the predicted physical characteristics of fast power reactors and for perfecting the methods of calculation.