Control Rod Worth Measurement and Method Optimization of Lead-bismuth Reactor Zero-power Experimental Device

The control rod worth measurement of the zero-power experimental device is generally performed by the periodic method, the substitution method or the rod drop method. In order to improve the efficiency of measurement, a multi-step rod-insertion method without compensation was proposed. The control rod worth of the first lead-bismuth reactor zero-power experimental device in China was measured by this method, and the results were compared with those obtained by the compensation method and the rod drop method. The accuracy of the method was verified by theoretical calculations. The results indicate that this method effectively reduces the space effect on measured worth, and the measurement results of control rod worth are accurate and reliable. The method can complete the higher precision rod worth measurement in a short time, and is suitable for the critical experimental device that needs to change the charging scheme frequently.