基于蒙特卡罗方法的三维燃耗计算研究

采用通过编写连接MCNP程序和ORIGEN2程序的接口处理程序的方法进行快中子系统的燃耗计算。由MCNP、ORIGEN2、接口处理程序和截面文件组成的软件系统可用于燃料或堆芯非均匀布置快中子系统的燃料同位素成分和燃耗反应性损失计算,在燃耗反应性损失计算中采用了伪裂变产物的方法。介绍程序系统的研制情况,并给出用该软件系统计算中国实验快堆首炉堆芯和OECD/NEAMOX燃料快堆基准题的燃耗计算结果。     

Validation of a new continuous Monte Carlo burnup code using a Mox fuel assembly

The reactivity of nuclear fuel decreases with irradiation (or burnup) due to the transformation of heavy nuclides and the formation of fission products. Burnup credit studies aim at accounting for fuel irradiation in criticality studies of the nuclear fuel cycle (transport, storage, etc…). The principal objective of this study is to evaluate the potential capabilities of a newly developed burnup code called “BUCAL1”. BUCAL1 differs in comparison with other burnup codes as it does not use the calculated neutron flux as input to other computer codes to generate the nuclide inventory for the next time step. Instead, BUCAL1 directly uses the neutron reaction tally information generated by MCNP for each nuclide of interest to determine the new nuclides inventory. This allows the full capabilities of MCNP to be incorporated into the calculation and a more accurate and robust analysis to be performed. Validation of BUCAL1 was processed by code-to-code comparisons using predictions of several codes from the NEA/OCED. Infinite multiplication factors (k_∞) and important fission product and actinide concentrations were compared for a MOX core benchmark exercise. Results of calculations are analysed and discussed.     

Fission Product Model for BWR Analysis with Improved Accuracy in High Burnup

A new fission product (FP) chain model has been studied to be used in a BWR lattice calculation. In attempting to establish the model, two requirements, i.e. the accuracy in predicting burnup reactivity and the easiness in practical application, are simultaneously considered. The resultant FP model consists of 81 explicit FP nuclides and two lumped pseudo nuclides having the absorption cross sections independent of burnup history and fuel composition. For the verification, extensive numerical tests covering over a wide range of operational conditions and fuel compositions have been carried out. The results indicate that the estimated errors in burnup reactivity are within 0.1Δk for exposures up to 100GWd/t. It is concluded that the present model can offer a high degree of accuracy for FP representation in BWR lattice calculation.     

Comparative Studies of ENDF/B-6.8, JEF-2.2 and JENDL-3.2 Data Libraries by Monte Carlo Modeling of High Temperature Reactors on Plutonium Based Fuel Cycles

We performed a numerical comparative analysis of the burnup capability of the Gas Turbine-Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR) by the Monte Carlo Continuous Energy Burnup Code (MCB). The MCB code is an extension of MCNP that includes the burnup implementation; it adopts continuous energy cross sections and it evaluates the transmutation trajectories for over 2,400 decaying nuclides. We equipped the MCB code with three different nuclear data libraries: JENDL-3.2, JEF-2.2 and ENDF/B-6.8 processed for temperatures from 300 to 1,800K.

The GT-MHR model studied in this paper is fueled by actinides coming from the Light Water Reactors waste, converted into two different types of fuel: Driver Fuel and Transmutation Fuel. The Driver Fuel supplies the fissile nuclides needed to maintain the criticality of the reactor, whereas the Transmutation Fuel depletes non-fissile isotopes and controls reactivity excess. We set the refueling and shuffling period to one year and the in-core fuel residency time to three years.

The comparative analysis of the MCB code consists of accuracy and precision studies. In the accuracy studies, we performed the burnup calculation with different nuclear data libraries during the year at which the refueling and shuffling schedule set the equilibrium of the fuel composition. In the precision studies, we repeated the same simulations 20 times with a different pseudorandom number stride and the same nuclear data library.     

Validation of IRBURN calculation code system through burnup benchmark analysis

Assessment of the reactor fuel composition during the irradiation time, fuel management and criticality safety analysis require the utilization of a validated burnup calculation code system. In this work a newly developed burnup calculation code system, IRBURN, is introduced for the estimation and analysis of the fuel burnup in LWR reactors. IRBURN provides the full capabilities of the Monte Carlo neutron and photon transport code MCNP4C as well as the versatile code for calculating the buildup and decay of nuclides in nuclear materials, ORIGEN2.1, along with other data processing and linking subroutines. This code has the capability of using different depletion calculation schemes.     

基于SCALE的熔盐堆添料与后处理系统分析程序开发及验证

在线添料及在线去除中子毒物是熔盐堆区别于其他固体燃料反应堆的主要特征之一,能够实现较高的燃耗深度和燃料利用率。然而,现有的反应堆物理计算分析软件SCALE不能直接模拟熔盐堆的燃耗计算。因此,本文耦合SCALE中的截面处理模块、临界计算模块以及燃耗计算模块,开发了一套适用于多流体熔盐堆的添料与后处理系统分析程序MSR-RRS,实现熔盐堆的在线添料、裂变产物在线处理或离线批次处理等模拟功能。基于MSR-RRS对现有的单流熔盐增殖堆和双流熔盐快堆的燃耗性能进行了验证。结果表明,MSR-RRS计算结果与基准模型结果符合较好。MSR-RRS适用于多种堆型、多种燃料循环运行模式。     

Burnup analysis and in-core fuel management study of the 3 MW TRIGA MARK II research reactor

The principal objective of this study is to formulate an effective optimal fuel management strategy for the TRIGA MARK II research reactor at AERE, Savar. The core management study has been performed by utilizing four basic types of information calculated for the reactor: criticality, power peaking, neutron flux and burnup calculation. This paper presents the results of the burnup calculations for TRIGA LEU fuel elements. The fuel element burnup for approximately 20 years of operation was calculated using the TRIGAP compute code. The calculation is performed in one-dimensional radial geometry in TRIGAP. Inter-comparison of TRIGAP results with other two calculations performed by MVP-BURN and MCNP4C-ORIGEN2.1 show very good agreement. Reshuffling at 20,000 MWh step provides the highest core lifetime of the reactor, which is 64,500 MWh. Besides, the study gives valuable insight into the behaviour of the reactor and will ensure better utilization and operation of the reactor in future.     

Fission Product Model for BWR Lattice Calculation Code

A benchmark calculation of full fission product was performed for thermal reactor application using an isotope transmutation code DCHAIN based on 185 nuclides with revised nuclear data library. The fission product model for BWR lattice calculation was studied and tested with the benchmark results, and a model containing 45 explicit nuclides and one pseudo nuclide was selected as a reasonably best model to predict the burn up reactivity with high precision for practically all types of fuel and reactor operating conditions. The evaluated thermal cross section and resonance integral for the pseudo nuclide are σ_2,200 = 2.6b and.RI = 10.6b, combined with the pseudo fission yield values of 1.3898, 1.3233, 1.3675 and 1.2773 for fissions from ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U, ²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu, respectively. The present results are believed as equally applicable to PWR lattice calculation.     

基于CRAM的压水堆燃耗程序开发及验证

本文基于Cinder90燃耗数据库开发了燃耗求解程序MCRAM,并耦合MCNP程序对重要的锕系核素和裂变产物核素的反应截面进行了修正。以OECD/NEA乏燃料成分基准数据库中的Takahama-3压水堆燃料组件为基准题,对MCRAM程序的计算结果进行了验证,并与其他程序的计算结果进行了比较。结果表明,MCRAM程序对重要裂变产物和主要锕系核素的计算结果相对偏差小于5%,计算精度与ORIGEN2程序的相当。与此同时,同一例题的计算效率MCRAM较之MCNTRANS程序提高了近200倍。     

Effect of fission products yield library on the calculation of the nuclide composition of the fuel in sodium-cooled fast reactors

The calculation of the composition of irradiated fuel for different degrees of burnup is a basic problem in the analysis of nuclear-radiological safety of objects holding spent fuel assemblies. The yield of fission products is one of the important initial indicators in burnup calculations. Methods for compiling libraries of fission products yield on the basis of the ENDF/B up-to-date evaluated nuclear data files are described. The nuclide composition of uranium oxide and uranium-plutonium-zirconium metal fuel in sodium-cooled fast reactors is analyzed by means of high-precision calculations performed with different fission product yields libraries using different computer codes MONTEBURNS–MCNP5–ORIGEN2 and the results are presented.     

Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library Version 3 Revision-3: JENDL-3.3

Evaluation for JENDL-3.3 has been performed by considering the accumulated feedback information and various benchmark tests of the previous library JENDL-3.2. The major problems of the JENDL-3.2 data were solved by the new library: overestimation of criticality values for thermal fission reactors was improved by the modifications of fission cross sections and fission neutron spectra for ²³⁵U; incorrect energy distributions of secondary neutrons from important heavy nuclides were replaced with statistical model calculations; the inconsistency between elemental and isotopic evaluations was removed for medium-heavy nuclides. Moreover, covariance data were provided for 20 nuclides. The reliability of JENDL-3.3 was investigated by the benchmark analyses on reactor and shielding performances. The results of the analyses indicate that JENDL-3.3 predicts various reactor and shielding characteristics better than JENDL- 3.2.     

熔盐实验堆中燃料核素的灵敏度系数计算分析

以熔盐实验堆为模型,采用MCNP5和SCALE5.1中的TSUNAMI-3D-K5对燃料核素的灵敏度系数进行计算与分析。结果表明,灵敏度系数与核素在MSRE中的含量、位置和核素的中子反应截面有关,得到灵敏度系数最大的核素²³⁵U的宏观裂变截面和宏观俘获截面的灵敏度系数分别为0.267和0.110。MCNP5和TSUNAMI-3D-K5计算不同能区下²³²Th宏观总截面和俘获截面的灵敏度系数曲线一致,曲线在0.1 eV附近有一小峰,振荡区域同截面共振区范围相同。     

Uncertainty quantification of neutron multiplication factors of light water reactor fuels during depletion

Nuclear data-induced uncertainties of infinite neutron multiplication factors (k_∞) during fuel depletion are quantified in a single cell and a 3×3 multi-cell including burnable absorbers. Uncertainties of reaction cross sections, fission yields, decay half-lives and decay branching ratios provided in the JENDL libraries are taken into account. Hundred percent uncertainties are assumed to nuclear data to which uncertainty information are not provided in JENDL. Uncertainties propagation calculations are carried out with the adjoint-based procedure, and required sensitivity profiles of k_∞ with respect to these nuclear data are efficiently calculated by the depletion perturbation theory. Covariance matrices for fission yields and decay data in a simplified burnup chain are successfully generated by the stochastic-based procedure. k_∞ uncertainties of about 0.6% during fuel depletion are obtained, and it is shown that actinoids reaction cross sections are dominant contributors. Nuclide-wise decomposition of the uncertainties and observation of component-wise sensitivity profiles provide physical interpretations. By virtue of the adjoint-based procedure, several parametric surveys are also conducted. Contributions of uncertainties in fission products (FPs) nuclides are quantified, and important nuclides and energy ranges are identified for further evaluation of nuclear data of FP nuclides. Effect of cooling period on k_∞ uncertainties is also discussed.     

Analysis of integral experiment on erbia-loaded thermal spectrum cores using Kyoto University Critical Assembly by MCNP code with various cross section libraries

Under the project on high burnup nuclear fuel development using erbium as a burnable poison, a series of experiments were performed at the Kyoto University Critical Assembly. The experimental results have formed the basis for this study which aims to analyze the suitability of various evaluated nuclear data libraries for using them in neutronic calculations under the project. The MCNP code was used for the analysis. Calculation model geometry was fully detailed, and ENDF, JENDL, JEFF, and TENDL libraries were used during calculation. For the cross sections of erbium nuclides, the analysis revealed that calculated results upon all the libraries corresponded with experimental data within the errors. However, in some libraries, significant differences were found in case of carbon and uranium nuclides under certain conditions.     

Criticality of the thorium burnup in equilibrium state

The effective neutron multiplication factor (k_eff) as a function of burnup for different volume coolant (CoR) and fuel (FR) to cell ratio is presented. Additionally the Conversion Ratio (CR) of Th-232 to U-233, concentration of U-233, fissile and fission products calculation as a function of burnup are presented. The assembly is a critical reactor which makes volumes of coolant and fuel changes possible. In addition, an analytical model of calculation of k_eff as a function of U-233 and a poison concentration in equilibrium state are presented. One can achieve the criticality of Thorium Breeder Reactor (TBR) for enough high average neutron energy which one can obtain in Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) only. The maximal value of CR and burnup for case of k_eff ≥ 1 achieves 1.4 and 360 GWd/MTU, correspondently. The calculations were done with a MCNPX 2.7 code using F₂Be, Na and Pb coolants.     

The Cost of Transmutation of Fission Products in Nuclear Reactors

The operating regime of a VVÉR reactor in which the most important long-lived fission products ⁹⁹Tc and ¹²⁹I are transmuted is investigated. Estimates are presented for the decrease in the fuel burnup and decrease in the run time as a result of transmutation. Two methods for inserting the nuclides to be transmuted are examined – by adding to the nuclear fuel or the coolant. It is established that ⁹⁹Tc and ¹²⁹I transmutation with the rate of accumulation in a reactor decreases burnup by 5.1 GW·days/metric ton, i.e., by 12.7% of the standard burnup. This corresponds to electricity underproduction 110 GW·days per run or 37 GW·days per year of operation. This result is independent of the method used to insert the nuclides to be transmuted. These energy losses are the price to be paid for transmuting nuclides without removing them during reactor operation.     

基于离散纵标法的三维耦合燃耗与活化计算方法的发展

燃耗与活化分析在反应堆的燃耗管理与辐射屏蔽设计分析中起关键性的作用.基于一维、二维的输运程序的燃耗与活化分析方法难以解决复杂几何和强烈各向异性散射问题.本文通过耦合三维离散纵标(SN)方法粒子输运程序以及指数欧拉法活化计算程序,发展了快速精确的三维耦合燃耗与活化计算方法.该方法考虑了共振自屏效应动态修正,并采用重要核素...     

基于抽样方法的燃耗计算核素积存量不确定度分析

基于抽样基本原理研究了应用于燃耗计算的不确定度分析方法,并开发了燃耗计算不确定度分析程序。基于评价核数据库ENDF/B-Ⅷ.0的裂变产额标准差和衰变常量标准差计算得到了衰变常量协方差矩阵和带相关性的裂变产额协方差矩阵,并结合SCALE6.2程序包的56群反应截面协方差数据库,对Takahama-3压水堆组件基准题中SF95-4样品进行不确定度分析。计算了反应截面、衰变常量和裂变产额不确定度引起的核素积存量的不确定度。计算结果表明,反应截面的不确定度是锕系核素积存量不确定度的主要来源,裂变产额和衰变常量的不确定度对部分裂变产物的积存量会引入较大的不确定度。但考虑裂变产额相关性后,裂变产额引起的不确定度显著降低。     

燃耗数据库基准检验方法研究

燃耗数据库基准检验方法对于研制高准确度的燃耗数据库至关重要。本文以TAKAHAMA 3压水堆辐照后检验实验中SF95样品的建模为例，研究了建模要素对燃耗计算的影响，确定了燃耗实验建模的方法，开展了燃耗信用制研究感兴趣的锕系和裂变产物核素积存量计算值与实验值的比对。比对结果显示，主锕系核素计算偏差小于2%，大部分次锕系核素偏差小于10%，大部分重要裂变产物核素偏差小于5%。本文还对125Sb积存量随燃耗深度变化规律进行了理论分析，确认了破坏性放化实验测量结果存在缺陷，并进一步获得了125Sb积存量的修正值，使计算偏差从接近170%下降到20%以内。本次研究表明，燃耗数据库基准检验研究不仅需发展适当的燃耗实验建模方法，还需对实验数据进行适当的评价。     

Two practical methods for unionized energy grid construction in continuous-energy Monte Carlo neutron transport calculation

A considerable speed-up in continuous-energy Monte Carlo neutron transport calculation can be achieved by using the same unionized energy grid for all point-wise reaction cross sections. This speed-up results from the fact that time-consuming grid iteration is reduced to minimum, and if the unionized grid is constructed by combining the grids of all nuclides, there is no loss of data or accuracy in the calculation. The drawback of this approach is that computer memory is wasted for storing a large number of redundant data points. Memory usage may become a problem, especially in burnup calculation, in which the irradiated materials consist of several hundred actinide and fission product nuclides. The grid size easily increases to over 1 million points, requiring tens of gigabytes of memory for storing the cross section data. This paper presents two practical methods for reducing the memory demand, while trying preserve the accuracy of the original data. The calculation routines are included in the PSG2/Serpent Monte Carlo reactor physics burnup calculation code and the methods are tested in a BWR assembly burnup calculation.