A modernized and versatile startup reactivity measuring system installed at NPP Paks and its application for subcritical systems

In 2004 the Hungarian Paks NPP completed a project for upgrading the reactivity measuring system applied during reactor startup experiments. Almost all components of the previous system were replaced, only ex-core ionisation chambers remained unaltered. New hardware and software components were introduced for neutron flux signal handling, for data acquisition, as well as for measurement evaluation and data presentation. High-precision picoamper meters were installed at each reactor unit, current signals are handled by a portable signal processing unit. The system applies an accurate on-line reactivity calculation algorithm based on the point-kinetic model with six delayed neutron groups. Detailed off-line evaluation and analysis of startup measurements can be performed on the portable unit, as well.The paper describes the architecture, data acquisition modules, services and man–machine interface of the new system. Functions and results are illustrated with measured data recorded during a startup of Unit 3. In 2003 and 2004 the RMR was installed and tested at all Paks NPP units successfully and now it is in regular use during unit startups.The second part of the paper illustrates an extension of the new system to perform reactivity measurements using the well-known Rossi-α and Feynman-α statistical methods. The modified system was needed to estimate the reactivity of a subcritical system formed by damaged fuel assemblies stored at the fuel service pit of Paks Unit 2. Theoretical background of the applied algorithms is outlined, then results of validation tests and on site measurements are treated. The measurements have shown that the subcriticality of the damaged fuel was sufficiently deep if the high boron concentration in the fuel service pit was maintained.     

DF-VI快中子临界装置2号堆芯临界实验

DF-VI快中子临界装置在改造完成、堆芯发生了变化以后,进行了重新启动和一系列的实验测量。测量内容有：根据29次临界实验的数据对2号堆芯平均临界元件数和临界质量进行了计算;应用周期法和棒补偿法对控制棒价值进行了刻度;用逆动态反应性计对安全棒和安全块的价值进行了测量;对单根边缘元件价值和径向元件价值分布进行子测量。通过以上实验测量,确定了DF-VI快中子临界装置2号堆芯的主要安全运行参数。     

Benchmark Analysis of TRIGA Mark II Reactivity Experiment Using a Continuous Energy Monte Carlo Code MCNP

The benchmark analysis of reactivity experiments in the TRIGA-II core at the Musashi Institute of Technology Research Reactor (Musashi reactor, 100 kW) was performed by a three-dimensional continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MCNP4A. The reactivity worth and integral reactivity curves of the control rods as well as the reactivity worth distributions of fuel and graphite elements were used in the validation process of the physical model and neutron cross section data from the ENDF/B-V evaluation. The calculated values of integral reactivity curves of the control rods were in agreement with the experimental data obtained by the period method. The integral worth measured by the rod drop method was also consistent with the calculation. The calculated values of the fuel and the graphite element worth distributions were consistent with the measured ones within the statistical error estimates. These results showed that the exact core configuration including the control rod positions to reproduce the fission source distribution in the experiment must be introduced into the calculation core for obtaining the precise solution. It can be concluded that our simulation model of the TRIGA-II core is precise enough to reproduce the control rod worth, fuel and graphite elements reactivity worth distributions.     

基于Dragon与Donjon程序的液态熔盐实验堆临界计算与分析

基于组件输运程序Dragon与堆芯节块法程序Donjon,对包含有上下熔盐腔室、控制棒、实验孔道与中子源孔道的液态熔盐实验堆堆芯进行了计算与分析,给出了液态熔盐实验堆不同组件的等效均匀化模型。根据液态熔盐实验堆特性将中子能群划分为5种少群能群结构,基于所划分的每一种少群能群结构,对单根控制棒与不同控制棒组插入堆芯后的有效增殖因数和控制棒价值进行了计算分析。结果表明,7群能群结构具有更好的计算结果。基于7群能群结构开展了堆芯径向与纵向功率分布,以及控制棒拔出后堆芯的温度反应性系数计算分析,其计算结果与MCNP5计算结果相近,证明了模型等效的合理性以及Dragon和Donjon程序对液态熔盐实验堆的适用性。     

An impact of inherent neutron source on subcriticality measurement in a highly enriched uranium core of Kyoto University Critical Assembly

In a variety of highly enriched uranium cores of Kyoto University Critical Assembly, many different subcriticality measurements have been strenuously performed. However, any influence of neutron source inherent in the highly enriched uranium fuels on these measurements has hardly been studied. This is because the influence has been expected to be negligible in the fuels. In this study, we revaluated the influence on pulsed neutron, accelerator-beam trip and rod drop measurements to reveal an unexpected impact of the weak inherent source. Especially, the inherent source was injurious to most of the beam trip and the rod drop measurements based on the integral count method. The least-squares inverse kinetics analysis also had a significant influence on the inherent source. In the area ratio analysis for a pulsed neutron measurement, a considerable number of neutrons from the inherent source was mixed into delayed-neutron area. When the influence was considered in these data analyses, the subcritical reactivity of the above measurements was in good agreement with that calculated by the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP.     

Validation of 3D neutronic-thermalhydraulic coupled codes RELAP5/PARCSv2.7 and TRACEv5.0P3/PARCSv3.0 against a PWR control rod drop transient

In nuclear safety field, neutronic and thermalhydraulic codes performance is an important issue. New capabilities implementation, as well as models and tools improvements are a significant part of the community effort in looking for better nuclear power plants (NPP) designs. A procedure to analyze the PWR response to local deviations on neutronic or thermalhydraulic parameters is being developed. This procedure includes the simulation of Incore and Excore neutron flux detectors signals. A control rod drop real plant transient is used to validate the used codes and their new capabilities. Cross-section data are obtained by means of the SIMTAB methodology. Detailed thermalhydraulic models were developed: RELAP5 and TRACE models simulate three different azimuthal zones. Besides, TRACE model is performed with a fully three-dimensional core, thus, the cross-flow can be obtained. A Cartesian vessel represents the fuel assemblies and a cylindrical vessel the bypass and downcomer. Simulated detectors signals are obtained and compared with the real data collected during a control rod drop trial at a PWR NPP and also with data obtained with SIMULATE-3K code.     

深度次临界刻棒电子学实现方法研究

为实现深度次临界刻棒计算所需数据的有效采集,研究并设计了深度次临界刻棒电子学的总体架构及关键模块,通过堆上试验对关键模块特性进行了测试。结果表明,所设计的深度次临界刻棒电子学能够有效测量经过约200 m电缆传输后的探测器信号,脉冲信号波形宽度稳定,信噪比水平良好;所测得的高压坪特性曲线可以为探测器高压选取提供有效参考;所测得的甄别特性曲线稳定,能有效获取探测器信号中的中子成分。      

Validation of coupled codes using VVER plant measurements

A data set of five transients at different VVER type nuclear power plants was collected in order to validate neutron kinetics/thermal hydraulics codes. Two of these transients ‘drop of control rod at nominal power at Bohunice-3’ of VVER-440 type and ‘coast-down of 1 from 3 working MCPs at Kozloduy-6’ of VVER-1000 type, were then utilised for code validation. Eight institutes contributed to the validation with 10 calculations using 5 different combinations of coupled codes. The thermal hydraulic codes were ATHLET, SMABRE and RELAP5 and the neutron kinetic codes DYN3D, HEXTRAN, KIKO3D and BIPR8. The general behaviour of both the transients was quite well calculated with all the codes. Even an elementary modelling of coolant mixing in reactor pressure vessel under asymmetric transients improved correspondence to the measurements. Some differences between the calculations seem to indicate that fuel modelling and treatment of VVER-440 control rods need further consideration. The simultaneous validation interacted with the data collection effort and thus improved its quality. The complexity of data collection systems and sometimes conflicting data, however, called for compromises and interpretation guides that also taught the analysts balanced plant modelling.     

原型微堆低浓化初步研究

利用蒙特卡罗计算程序,对高浓铀为燃料的原型微堆的有效增殖因数、控制棒价值、上铍反射层价值以及辐照座内的中子注量率等参数进行了计算。将计算值与实验结果进行了比较,两者基本相符。在原型微堆堆芯尺寸保持不变的情况下,将堆芯燃料元件芯体用富集度为12.5%UO₂替换UAl和用锆包壳替换铝包壳,对堆芯燃料低浓化方案进行了计算,给出了方案的计算结果。并利用RELAP5程序计算了原型微堆低浓铀堆芯阶跃引入4.0 mk反应性情况下反应堆的相关参数。     

组织等效电离室性能模拟分析

采用对中子和γ辐射具有相似灵敏度的组织等效电离室与对中子不太灵敏而对γ辐射灵敏的无氢电离室配对,组成双电离室探测器,测量反应堆混合场中的中子和γ剂量率,具有较高的测量精度。为给双电离室研制工作提供理论依据,本工作采用MCNP程序对组织等效电离室在不同条件下的γ射线能量响应、灵敏度及其影响因素进行模拟。模拟结果与文献参数比较,一致性较好。     

在特定实验条件下的散射中子本底研究

研究了d-T中子源与探测器距离较近时,扣除实验大厅散射中子本底的方法。实验上采用屏蔽法,用了铀裂变电离室。用MCNP/4A程序和FENDL2库数据计算了实验大厅散射中子本底曲线。采用实验和计算相结合的方法扣除了在特定实验条件下的散射中子本底,方法是可行的。     

First experience with a six-loop nodalization of a VVER-440 using a new coupled neutronic-thermohydraulics system KIKO3D-RETINA V1.1D

In this paper, we introduce a new, coupled neutronic-thermohydraulics system. The three-dimensional neutron kinetic code KIKO3D and the two-phase flow code RETINA V1.1D have been coupled for modeling complex transients of nuclear power plants. Using a six-loop nodalization of a VVER-440, several test calculations have been carried out. Results obtained for a trip of one main circulation pump are compared with real measurements and reference calculations provided by other neutronic-thermohydraulics systems. The ability of our coupled system is demonstrated.     

New dynamic method to measure rod worths in zero power physics test at PWR startup

To measure and validate the worth of control (or shutdown) bank in zero power physics test at PWRs, a dynamic control rod reactivity measurement (DCRM) technique has been developed and applied to six startups of Westinghouse plants as well as Korea Standard Nuclear power Plants based on the Combustion Engineering System 80 NSSS. With this technique, just one test bank is inserted into the bottom of the core at maximum stepping rate and withdrawn immediately to the all rod-out position. Specially designed inverse point kinetics equations are used to determine the test bank worth from the measured ex-core detector signals, which are controlled by the neutron-to-response conversion factor and the dynamic-to-static conversion factor. These two parameters are predetermined by the three-dimensional neutron adjoint flux distribution for both the top and bottom ex-core detector and the three-dimensional steady and transient core power distribution for test bank movement. To eliminate the gamma-ray effect on ex-core detector signals, a simple method, using reactivity curve characteristics, was also developed. To verify the DCRM method, a total of 28 bank worths of six different PWRs was measured by the DCRM and compared with those of conventional method. Results show that the DCRM method has a similar accuracy as the conventional technique. However, with the DCRM method, it only takes ∼15 min per bank from the beginning of rod insertion to the determination of measured static worth. From its performance, one can conclude that the DCRM method is an effective replacement for the conventional rod worth measurement method.     

Feasibility Study for Evaluation of Control Rod Worth in Pressurized Water Reactors using Neutron Count Rate during a Control Rod Drop Testing

Applicability of the modified Neutron Source Multiplication (NSM) method with extraction of the fundamental mode to subcriticality measurement has been proposed. Following the feasibility verification in the previous study based on numerical analyses, its applicability has been proven in a more realistic situation; in a withdrawal sequence of control rod banks during the PWR startup. Subcriticalities with various control rod insertion configurations were estimated based on the modified NSM method. The subcriticality could be evaluated with a good accuracy even with the mockup experiment where any special treatments for accurate measurement were not taken into account and furthermore the insensitivity of measured signals by reactivity changes and their large fluctuations were seen.

Based on this fact, we further investigated a feasibility to use neutron count rate data obtained during the control rod drop testing, which is carried out before the reactor physics tests at hot zero power condition. When it is proven that these data could be used for the estimation of each control rod worth, the following reactor physics tests could be performed with the advanced knowledge of each control rod worth and procedures for detailed control rod worth measurement could be simplified or eliminated from the reactor physics tests.     

启明星2号轻水堆燃料棒价值实验和模拟研究

本文对启明星2号零功率装置中轻水堆的单根棒价值进行了实验和模拟研究。利用MCNP6程序和5种截面库计算出5组动态参数,将实验所测的倍周期代入倒时方程得到了5种动态参数对应的单根棒价值。采用斜率法计算出5种数据库对应的单根棒价值,并与实验结果进行了比较。结果表明：5组动态参数给出的周期法实验结果存在明显差异,不同数据库下斜率法给出的模拟结果基本一致;采用JENDL-4.0库时,实验值与模拟值吻合最好,相对偏差小于1%。本文推荐选用JENDL-4.0库计算的动态参数处理实验数据,周期法所得的单根棒价值为(0.237 6±0.015 6) mk。获得精确的单根棒价值,将有助于提高后续ADS相关实验的准确性和可靠性。     

Validation of the nuclear design code system for the HTTR using the criticality assembly VHTRC

The high temperature engineering test reactor is the first block-type HTGR designed for a 950 °C outlet gas temperature which uses low-enriched uranium fuel with burnable poison rod. For validation of the nuclear design code system for the HTTR, a critical assembly of VHTRC had been constructed. The calculation uncertainties of effective multiplication factor, neutron flux distribution, burnable poison reactivity worth, and control rod worth, temperature coefficients were evaluated. Calculation accuracy of a Monte Carlo code is also evaluated.     

CEFR探测器三维空间响应函数敏感性研究

本文利用离散纵标程序研究了网格划分、能群数目、角度离散数和散射截面展开阶数等计算条件对堆芯区域共轭中子注量率分布形状的影响。基于求解共轭输运方程计算了中国实验快堆钠池内探测器三维空间响应函数,分析了控制棒位置、燃耗累积、燃料组件装载等因素对探测器空间响应函数的影响。结果表明：共轭中子注量率分布形状对网格宽度的敏感性低,可利用粗网格条件下共轭中子注量率分布形状求解探测器空间响应函数;控制棒对空间响应函数的影响与控制棒在堆芯中所处位置有关,组件内空间响应函数受控制棒影响程度与组件和控制棒的相对位置有关;探测器空间响应函数受新装载组件影响较明显,但对新装载组件位置的敏感性低。本文结果为大型快堆探测器空间响应函数计算提供了参考,为快堆动态刻棒提供了技术支持。     

控制棒水压驱动系统落棒减速性能实验研究

控制棒水压驱动系统是清华大学为低温核供热堆发明的新型的内置式控制棒驱动技术,控制棒水力减速部件是水压驱动系统的关键部件之一,通过其对控制棒落棒过程进行减速,在保证落棒时间的前提下,降低控制棒快速落棒过程的冲击力。分析了水力减速部件组成和工作原理,确定了水力减速箱侧壁开孔方案,完成了不同开孔方案工况下控制棒水压驱动系统冷态落棒减速性能实验,在实验结果的基础上对比和分析了不同方案下的落棒减速机理和落棒过程特征参数随开孔方案的变化规律。分析结果表明:随开孔面积的增大,落棒时间逐渐减小,落棒峰值速度逐渐增大。在开孔面积大于0.004 m~2时,随开孔面积的增大,落棒峰值速度增大过程趋于平缓,落棒稳定速度和落棒延迟时间变化不大,控制棒触碰碟簧速度缓慢增大。实验研究成果为控制棒水压驱动系统落棒减速部件的理论建模和设计优化提供了基础。     

秦山一期核电站未能紧急停堆的预期瞬变导致堆芯熔化的进程及事故缓解措施研究

选择失去主给水、失去厂外电和正常运行情况下控制棒失控提升3个典型的导致未能紧急停堆的预期瞬变(ATWS)的初因事故,采用自行研制的基于SCDAP／RELAP5／MOD3．1的核反应堆严重事故分析平台,对秦山一期核电站ATWS初因导致堆芯熔化严重事故进程进行了分析研究,对防止ATWS导致堆芯熔化进程的缓解措施的有效性进行了验证。计算分析结果表明,二回路补水和一回路卸压的事故缓解措施能有效地阻止堆芯熔化进程。