The Exponential Pile of the Laboratory of Nuclear Engineering, National Technical University of Athens

The present article describes the experimental facility of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Laboratory of Nuclear Engineering, whic is called as "Exponential Pile". This assembly consists of a subcritical nuclear facility which allows the observation oand measurement of various physical nuclear parameters associated with the operation of thermal nuclear reactors.

Next, a detailed theoretical study of the unloaded pile, when supplied with neutrons, is performed, by the method of the "flux harmonic components". Comparison of the present theoretical predictions with measurements at the Laboratory is also done.

Finally, the behaviour of the loaded pile, which simulates a subcritical nuclear reactor, is investigated. Theoretical predictions, by well known theories applied to the present case are compared with results obtained from the present experimental work.

The agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results, for the situations examined, is considered satisfactory.