Vibration Analysis of the BAEC TRIGA Research Reactor Cooling System: A Comprehensive Study

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) Research Reactor (BTRR) cooling system is a critical component for safe and reliable reactor operation. Excessive vibration of this system can lead to fatigue, component failure, and potential safety hazards. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the vibration characteristics of the BRR cooling system, including a detailed analysis of the system's design, operation, and potential sources of vibration. Experimental measurements were conducted at various locations within the system to characterize the vibration levels and frequencies. Based on analytical results, it is found that the mitigation strategy (variable frequency device installation, providing soft start up, change of coolant pump motors, change of piping arrangements, provide piping supports) is quite successful as the vibration level reduce significantly. specially for the primary side the vibration improvement was observed up to 75%. Reduction of vibration in primary side is very important in context of loss of coolant accident prevention. This study aims to provide a roadmap for improving the vibration performance of the BTRR cooling system, enhancing its reliability, and contributing to the overall safety of the reactor.