Characterization of neutron field in the experimental fast reactor JOYO for fuel and structural material irradiation test

The experimental fast reactor JOYO has been operated as an irradiation test facility for fast reactor fuel and structural material since 1983 with its MK-II core. During this time, an extensive study was conducted to characterize the neutron field in order to assure the accuracy and reliability of neutron fluence. Neutron flux for a given irradiation test was calculated using a core management code system based on three-dimensional diffusion theory. It was then corrected with the adjusted neutron spectrum by means of the multiple foil activation method. The neutron fluence calculation accuracy in the fuel region was evaluated within a 5% error by comparing the burn-up of spent fuel with the measured values, which had been obtained from their post-irradiation examination. At positions away from the fuel region, the neutron flux distribution was calculated using a two-dimensional transport code. A Monte Carlo code was also used to analyze the detailed neutron flux distribution within an irradiation test subassembly that had a heterogeneous internal structure. With the neutron flux results various irradiation parameters, such as displacement per atom (dpa) and helium production, could be evaluated. A helium accumulation fluence monitor has been developed to measure not only neutron fluence but also helium production. Neutron flux and fluence obtained from the core management calculations were compiled as a database for users’ convenience together with related irradiation information and fuel subassembly material compositions. These data are expected to be widely used in the post-irradiation analysis of fuel and structural material.     

基于特征线法计算的超细群慢化方程求解方法

为实现对复杂几何、复杂能谱组件的精细计算,提出了一种基于特征线的超细群慢化方程求解方法。通过耦合特征线法中的固定源计算,在共振能量范围内建立超细群慢化方程,通过精细能谱获得复杂结构下的共振自屏截面。对典型压水堆栅元问题、带有温度分布的栅元问题、燃料内部存在不均匀性的栅元问题以及板状燃料组件问题进行了计算。结果表明,基于特征线的超细群慢化方程求解方法可精确计算复杂几何、复杂能谱问题,为共振计算提供基准。     

环形燃料反应堆通量密度分布测量

相对中子通量密度分布是反应堆的重要物理参数之一,测量环形燃料零功率反应堆堆芯相对中子通量密度分布对了解环形燃料堆芯反应堆物理特性及开展安全分析具有指导意义。本文在环形燃料堆芯多边形装载下,采用箔活化法对辐照后燃料元件外表面不同位置金箔的γ活度进行测量,得到不同位置燃料元件轴向、径向的相对中子通量密度分布,并将测量值与蒙特卡罗理论计算值进行比对。结果表明：实验测量值与理论计算值最大相对偏差在12%以内,相对中子通量密度分布测量结果符合实验设计预期,现有蒙特卡罗分析手段可较好地分析堆内元件轴向通量密度分布情况。本文结果可为环形燃料的工程化应用提供重要的数据支撑。     

Azimuthal flux distribution measurements around fuel rods in reduced-moderation LWR lattices

An advanced analysis method named “micro reactor physics approach” was proposed, and the approach is needed for future reactor design considering the neutron behavior in fuel pellets. In order to validate the approach, neutron flux distribution measurements in a fuel pellet should be required. We have measured azimuthal flux distribution of fuel rods in Toshiba Nuclear Critical Assembly (NCA). A foil activation method with metallic foils was used for the measurement. Measured values were analyzed by a continuous energy Monte Carlo code MVP with the JENDL-3.3 library. The measurements are useful for the validation of an advanced fuel design method considering the neutron behavior in fuel pellets.     

Development of Spectral History and Pin Power Correction Methods for Pin-by-Pin Core Analysis Method Using Three-Dimensional Direct Response Matrix

Spectral history and pin power correction methods have been developed for the pin-by-pin core analysis method using the three-dimensional direct response matrix (3D-DRM). The direct response matrix is formalized using four subresponse matrices in order to respond to a core eigenvalue k and thus it can be recomposed at each outer iteration in the core analysis. For core analysis, it is necessary to take into account the historical effect, which is related to spectral heterogeneity. The spectral history method is used to evaluate the nodal burn-up spectrum obtained by using the outgoing neutron current instead of the nodal flux because the 3D-DRM method does not use the nodal flux. The pin power correction method corrects the fuel rod neutron production rates obtained in the pin-by-pin calculation. These two methods were tested in a heterogeneous system. The test results show that the neutron multiplication factor error and nodal neutron production rate errors can be reduced by half during burn-up. The root-mean-square differences between the relative fuel rod neutron production rate distributions and the maximum error of relative fuel rod production rate can also be reduced by half. This means that the developed methods can reflect the effects of intra- and interassembly heterogeneities during burn-up and can be used for core analysis.     

Measurement of Burnup in FBR MOX Fuel Irradiated to High Burnup

The burnup of fuel pins in the subassemblies irradiated at the range from 0.003 to 13.28%FIMA in the JOYO MK-II core were measured by the isotope dilution analysis. For the measurement, 75 and 51 specimens were taken from the fuel pins of driver fuel and irradiation test subassemblies, respectively. The data of burnup could be obtained within an experimental error of 4%, and were compared with the ones calculated by 3-dimensional neutron diffusion codes MAGI and ESPRIT-J, which are used for JOYO core management system.

Both data of burnup almost agree with each other within an error of 5%. For the fuel pins loaded at the outer region of the subassembly in the 4th row, which was adjacent to reflectors, however, some of the calculation results were 15% less at most than the measured values. It is suggested from the calculation by a Monte Carlo code MCNP-4A that this difference between the calculated and the measured data attribute from the softening of neutron flux in the region adjacent to the reflector.     

固体径迹探测器测量反应堆功率研究

在零功率反应堆上利用固体径迹探测器直接测量燃料元件内的裂变率，可得到反应堆的功率。同时测量反应堆某位置的热中子通量密度，继而可得到单位功率的热中子通量密度。因此，通过测量该点的任何热中子通量密度即可得到反应堆的运行功率。该方法可以减少与能谱测量有关的修正工作。由于辐照所需的中子通量密度低、时间短，因此与活化法等相比具有明显的优点。     

Application of Coarse Mesh Method to Neutron Diffusion Calculation for Fast Breeder Reactors

The improved coarse mesh method, which was originally derived by Askew and extended by Takeda, has been modified and applied to a 1,000-MWe and a 300-MWe homogeneous FBR core. In the present method, mesh average neutron flux and mesh center neutron flux are distinguished, and transverse neutron bucklings are taken into account. The results of numerical calculations showed that, with the present method, the power distribution and CR worths are appreciably improved for the 1,000-MWe FBR core with large-pitch fuel assemblies. When CRs are withdrawn, the use of the present method reduces the error of power distribution by half for both cores. However, it yields less satisfactory results, particularly with repect to CR worths, for the 300-MWe FBR core with small-pitch fuel assemblies.     

探测片衬底支架对欠慢化中子场的扰动分析

板型燃料组件窄流道内的中子处于欠慢化状态,在堆芯中子注量率测量中,探测片衬底材料的引入将较大地改变窄流道内慢化介质的成分,从而影响中子的慢化和吸收,给测量结果带来较大误差。本工作采用蒙特卡罗模拟计算办法,分析了多种衬底材料在不同厚度及不同衬底方式下对中子场的扰动情况,为板型燃料组件堆芯中子注量率测量中衬底材料的选择及测量数据的处理提供了依据。     

Development of high-frame-rate neutron radiography and quantitative measurement method for multiphase flow research

In relation to the establishment of thermal neutron radiography as a measurement method with high accuracy and reliability, this paper reviewed the present status on the development of high-frame-rate neutron radiography with a steady thermal neutron beam and its application to multiphase flow researches. This review included also the present progress on the quantification of neutron radiographic image at Kyoto University, i.e. (1) quantitative method to measure void fraction of two-phase flow with thermal neutron radiography (Σ-scaling method), (2) influence of scattered neutrons on void fraction measured by neutron radiography, (3) measurement error of neutrons in a low neutron flux field, (4) error in void fraction measurement due to low gray level, and (5) measurement error due to low imaging speed Moreover, a new experimental approach on a total macroscopic cross section for thermal neutrons measurement by neutron radiography was presented. This paper revealed neutron radiography to be a promising visualization and measurement method in thermal hydraulic research.     

三区非均匀栅元X-Y几何块方法中子输运计算

基于中子积分输运理论,应用综合界面流和碰撞几率技巧的块方法,导出了处理三区非均匀栅元结构的二维（Ｘ－Ｙ）几何多群中子输运问题的数值模型。即对于由若干栅元组成的按Ｘ－Ｙ几何排列的堆芯结构,对每一类栅元剖分为圆柱形元件（如燃料棒、控制棒、可燃毒物棒等）、包壳和慢化剂三个均匀区,用碰撞几率（ＣＰ或ＰＩＪ）方法计算各区的中子通量分布;对于相邻栅元用ＤＰ１近似的中子流来耦合;因此,块方法具有精度高、速度快、能灵活处理各种几何问题的优点,是目前动力堆组件计算最有前途的方法之一。基于块方法基本理论,发展了三区栅元模型,导出了计算方法,编制了ＦＯＲＴＲＡＮ计算机程序。为验证其精度和适用性,对两个例题进行了计算,并与其它程序的计算结果进行了比较,证明功率分布和本征值均符合较好。     

数字化多通道宽量程ITER中子通量密度测量系统研制

针对国际热核聚变实验堆(ITER)对中子通量密度测量宽量程、高集成度、实时性的要求,设计了一套基于PXI架构的多通道中子通量密度测量系统。该系统包括新研制的电流灵敏前置放大器及基于高速模数转换器(ADC)和可编程逻辑器件(FPGA)的主电子学插件。通过全数字化信号处理技术衔接脉冲计数和坎贝尔两种测量模式,大幅拓展了测量量程和提高了系统集成度。该系统通过使用脉冲堆积率估算算法,实现了测量模式的精确自动切换。实验结果表明,该系统具备单一裂变室大于1.7×10~(10)cm~(-2)·s~(-1)中子通量密度实时测量能力,全量程相对误差低于7.1%。     

基于改进变分节块法的共轭中子通量密度计算技术

共轭中子通量密度对于核安全和压水堆（PWR）中的探测器计算有着重要的意义,为了消除现有节块方法在处理由于控制棒移动带来的非均匀节块（包括非均匀的截面和不连续因子）时所造成的较大误差,本文提出一种改进的变分节块法（VNM）。确定了不同于前向方程的共轭节块方法的连续条件,不同于传统VNM在全局建立泛函,本文方法为每一个节块建立泛函;构建了含非均匀不连续因子的乘子项,以显式处理表面不连续的共轭中子通量密度;除共轭体中子通量密度、截面和表面分中子流密度外,将表面不连续因子展开为分段正交多项式来构造响应矩阵。含有非均匀节块的BEAVRS基准题数值结果证明,同传统VNM相比,改进的VNM可以将非均匀问题的有效共轭增殖系数和燃料区共轭中子通量密度偏差降低2个量级,有利于实现前向与共轭中子通量密度的高精度内积计算。     

^6Li和^7Li双玻璃闪烁体γ补偿法测量中子注量

依据＾６Ｌｉ玻璃闪烁体中子，γ皆灵敏，而＾７Ｌｉ玻璃闪烁仅对γ灵敏的特性，研究成功用＾Ｌｉ，＾７Ｌｉ双玻璃闪烁体γ补偿法，实现在强γ辐射场干扰下，对弱中子注量率探测的方法，当＾６０Ｃｏγ在中子信号幅度区的干扰计数率，占中子计算数率的１８．７％时，该方法对净中子注量测量结果导致的误差约为１％。     

Development of a data acquisition and control system for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor neutron flux monitor

To satisfy high-precision, wide-range, and real-time neutron flux measurement requirements by the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER), a data acquisition and control system based on fission chamber detectors and fast controller technology, has been developed for neutron flux monitor in ITER Equatorial Port #7. The signal processing units which are based on a field programmable gate array and the PXI Express platform are designed to realize the neutron flux measurement with 1 ms time resolution and a fast response less than 0.2 ms,together with real-time timestamps provided by a timing board. The application of the widerange algorithm allows the system to measure up to 10~(10) cps with a relative error of less than 5%.Furthermore, the system is managed and controlled by a software based on the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System, compliant with COntrol, Data Access and Communication architecture.     

机械速度选择器标定技术及标定实验

机械速度选择器作为关键部件广泛应用于中子散射谱仪上,研发标定技术、研制标定设备及开展标定实验是机械速度选择器应用的前提。本文基于中国先进研究堆小角中子散射谱仪,设计了标定中子飞行时间设备的结构,确定了设备的参数。研究了漏计数对波长分辨率测量的影响,发现波长分辨率测量误差取决于死时间及高斯峰位计数率之积,若死时间不变,波长分辨率测量误差随高斯峰位计数率的增加而变大。开展了飞行时间法机械速度选择器标定实验,发现单色中子波长的理论计算结果与实验数据的高斯拟合结果非常接近;波长分辨率实验值随波长的增加而增加,与波长分辨率计算值有一定差距,这些变化和差距源自束流发散。使用漏计数对波长分辨率测量影响的规律分析了实验结果,计算出了样品位置中子通量密度上限;使用VITESS软件模拟得出了不同波长样品位置中子通量密度并验证了二维可调狭缝调节中子通量密度的效果。     

用聚乙烯薄膜测中子绝对注量率

在测量中快中子（ｎ，ｐ）反应的实验中，同样利用屏栅电离室测得聚乙烯薄膜反冲质子的能谱，并利用蒙特－卡罗方法对其进行校正，则得到中子的绝对注量率，将其结果与＾２３８Ｕ测得的结果进行比较，二者在误差范围内相同，说明用此方法测量中子绝对注量率是可行的。     

Reactivity Worth of Fuel Elements

Reactivity worths of fuel elements were measured in the Ozenji Critical Facility (OCF) and analyzed with three group perturbation method. The result shows that the worth of one single fuel pin can be well predicted by calculation over a very wide range of the core spectrum, namely from a lattice of 2.5% enrichment and 0.43 volume ratio to that of 1.5% enrichment and 3.5 volume ratio.

The analysis indicates the importance of thermal neutron flux peaking remaining after the removal of a fuel pin. Only by incorporating this effect can the reactivity worth of a fuel pin be correctly evaluated. In the present study, the neutron spectrum in the water hole where the peaking occurred was assumed to be the same as in the reflector. The reflector spectrum seems to provide better agreement with experiment than the core spectrum. Validity of the analysis was extended to a bundle of sixteen fuel pins by measuring the reactivity worths of bundles of fuel pins as well as the thermal neutron flux distributions. One dimensional diffusion calculations were employed throughout the analysis.     

Application of gamma-neutron ionization chambers for monitoring the distribution of the neutron flux density,energy release,and energy production in RBMK-1000

A method developed for performing direct measurements of three-dimensional distributions of energy release and energy production in RBMK fuel assemblies is described. The method is based on performing measurements with a gamma-neutron chamber and comparing the neutron and gamma signals. The results of the measurements of the neutron flux density, energy release, and energy production are compared with the values obtained with the Prizma-M program of the Skala-micro information-measurement system. It is confirmed experimentally that the Prizma-M system can be used to monitor the distribution of not only the neutron flux density and energy release of fuel assemblies but also the energy production of off-loaded fuel assemblies. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 103, No. 3, pp. 182–186, September, 2007.     

Mass flow rate sensitivity and uncertainty analysis in natural circulation boiling water reactor core from Monte Carlo simulations

Our aim was to evaluate the sensitivity and uncertainty of mass flow rate in the core on the performance of natural circulation boiling water reactor (NCBWR). This analysis was carried out through Monte Carlo simulations of sizes up to 40,000, and the size, i.e., repetition of 25,000 was considered as valid for routine applications. A simplified boiling water reactor (SBWR) was used as an application example of Monte Carlo method. The numerical code to simulate the SBWR performance considers a one-dimensional thermo-hydraulics model along with non-equilibrium thermodynamics and non-homogeneous flow approximation, one-dimensional fuel rod heat transfer. The neutron processes were simulated with a point reactor kinetics model with six groups of delayed neutrons. The sensitivity was evaluated in terms of 99% confidence intervals of the mean to understand the range of mean values that may represent the entire statistical population of performance variables. The regression analysis with mass flow rate as the predictor variable showed statistically valid linear correlations for both neutron flux and fuel temperature and quadratic relationship for the void fraction. No statistically valid correlation was observed for the total heat flux as a function of the mass flow rate although heat flux at individual nodes was positively correlated with this variable. These correlations are useful for the study, analysis and design of any NCBWR. The uncertainties were propagated as follows: for 10% change in the mass flow rate in the core, the responses for neutron power, total heat flux, average fuel temperature and average void fraction changed by 8.74%, 7.77%, 2.74% and 0.58%, respectively.