Ebr Ii Dry Critical Experiments

These experiments are preoperational zero-power nuclear investigations in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) prior to insertion of sodium coolant. The experiments were performed with the power reactor instruments, fuel and mechanical components installed. The measured dry critical size, reactivity worth of control mechanisms and isothermal temperature coefficient of reactivity are in good agreement with predicted values. Additional measurements include neutron flux distributions in the uranium reflector and outside the reactor neutron shield.