Homogeneous zones definition in deterministic codes and effect on computed neutronic parameters

The design or modification and in general the analysis and control of nuclear reactors require complex calculations, which are carried out by numerical codes including neutronic and thermal-hydraulic components. Among the neutronic codes, the deterministic ones which solve the neutron transport/diffusion equation simulate the reactor core by dividing it into homogenized zones, i.e. volumes within which the macroscopic nuclear properties are considered uniform. These codes have been extensively used and tested for several decades and are shown to perform well when they analyze reactor cores containing regions with relatively homogeneous distributions of fuel, moderator and absorbing materials. In this work, the sensitivity of computed key neutronic parameters to the partitioning of the reactor core in homogenized zones is examined. Application is made for a configuration of the Greek Research Reactor (GRR-1) core, which is pool type, fueled by slab-type fuel elements. For the calculations, the neutronic code system consisting of XSDRNPM (cell-calculations) and CITATION (core analysis) is used with two different definitions of homogeneous zones for the special/control fuel assemblies. The effect on computations of neutron flux distribution, void-induced reactivity and total control rod worth is examined based on corresponding measurements. It is shown that with a more appropriate partition in homogeneous zones, the agreement of computed results with measurements can be remarkably improved concerning mainly the neutron flux, while the control rods worth is the less affected quantity.     

基于SAC-3D系统软件的FFTF未能紧急停堆失流实验的数值模拟

本文利用系统分析软件SAC-3D对美国快通量试验堆（FFTF）堆芯及一回路进行了建模,并根据国际原子能机构（IAEA）提供的FFTF未能紧急停堆的失流实验的边界条件数据进行了事故瞬态仿真计算。计算得到堆芯热工水力及中子物理关键参数,仿真结果与实验测量数据符合较好。对比结果验证了SAC 3D在模拟液态金属冷却快堆事故工况中的有效性与准确性,也证明了FFTF堆型具有可靠的非能动安全性。     

Uncertainty quantification of neutronic parameters of light water reactor fuel cells with JENDL-4.0 covariance data

Neutronic parameter uncertainty induced by nuclear data uncertainty is quantified for several light water reactor fuel cells composed of different combinations of fissile/fertile nuclides. The covariance data given in JENDL-4.0 are used as the nuclear data uncertainty, and uncertainty propagation calculations are carried out using sensitivity coefficients calculated with the generalized perturbation theory for burnup-related neutronic parameters.

It is found that main contributors of nuclear data uncertainty to the neutronic parameter uncertainty are the uranium-238 capture cross section in a uranium-oxide fuel cell, and the plutonium-240 and plutonium-241 capture cross sections and fission spectrum of fissile plutonium isotopes in a uranium–plutonium mixed-oxide fuel cell. It is also found that thorium-232 capture cross section uncertainty is a dominant source of neutronic parameter uncertainty in thorium–uranium and thorium–plutonium mixed-oxide fuel cells. It should be emphasized that precise and detail information of component-wise uncertainties can be obtained by virtue of the adjoint-based sensitivity calculation methodology. Furthermore, cross-correlations are evaluated for each fuel cell, and strong correlations among the same parameters at the beginning of cycle and at the end of cycle and among different parameters are observed.     

Impact of Resonance Treatment on Minor Actinide Incineration in a D–T Thorium Fusion Concept

Resonance treatments have an essential role to reliable neutronic calculations with different neutronic parameters. In this study presents the effect of resonance treatment and various tritium breeder materials on the incineration of the nitride fuels containing minor actinide mixed thoria in the Deuterium–Tritium fusion driven hybrid reactor as time dependent. Neutron transport calculations under resonance treatment and without resonance treatment are performed by using XSDRNPM/SCALE 5 codes. The impact of resonance treatments and various tritium breeder materials on tritium breeding, energy multiplication, total fission rate (∑_f), cumulative fissile fuel enrichment, fissile fuel breeding, average burn up values are comparatively investigated. It is observed that the neutronic results affect from both resonance treatment and the tritium breeder materials as time dependent.     

Physical investigation for neutron consumption and multiplication in fusion–fission hybrid test blanket module

Inelastic scattering of high energy fusion neutrons does affect the performance of fusion blanket based on the choice of different materials. It will also affect the behavior of source neutrons in a subcritical fusion fission hybrid blanket and consequently the transmutation and tritium breeding performance. A fusion fission hybrid test blanket module (HTBM) is designed which is presumed to be tested in a large sized tokamak and plasma neutron source is similar to ITER. In this preliminary design of HTBM the neutron source and loss factors are computed for the detailed neutronic performance analysis. The neutronic analysis of hybrid blanket module is performed for five different TRU fuel types: TRU-Zr, TRU-Mo, TRU-Oxide, TRU-Carbide and TRU-Nitride. In this module design, it is aimed to burn and transmute the TRU nuclides from high-level radioactive waste of PWR spent fuel. The effect of TiC reflector on transmutation and tritium breeding performance of HTBM is also quantified. MCNPX is used for neutronic computations. Neutron spectrum, capture to fission ratio and waste transmutation ratio of each fuel type are compared to evaluate their waste transmutation performance. Tritium breeding ratio is also compared for two coolant options: Li and LiPb eutectic.     

物理-热工耦合对超临界水堆系统特性的影响分析

物理-热工耦合是超临界水堆系统分析的关键问题之一。以日本超临界水冷热堆Super LWR的堆芯设计为例,借助Dragon编制中子截面数据库,建立双群中子扩散方程计算模块,联系同时建立的热工计算模块,得到超临界水堆的物理-热工耦合计算模型。通过对比稳态与瞬态工况下耦合前、后的热工工况,分析物理-热工耦合条件下的超临界水堆系统热工特性。结果表明：在稳态工况下,物理-热工耦合将导致内、外组件堆芯功率峰值沿轴向发生明显偏移,使得部分节点的包壳温度升高,但包壳最高温度降低;在瞬态工况下,物理-热工耦合将导致堆芯包壳最高温度的发生位置有所改变。发生给水加热丧失瞬态后,在某一时刻,外部组件的包壳最高温度将转而超过内部组件的包壳最高温度。可见,物理-热工耦合对包壳最高温度的大小和发生位置均可能产生明显影响。计算分析可为超临界水堆瞬态及安全分析提供相应理论参考。     

采用FFT方法对横摇条件下堆芯核热耦合流动不稳定性的分析

基于开发的海洋条件下堆芯核热耦合流动不稳定性分析程序,利用快速傅里叶变换（FFT）方法对堆芯通道的流量振荡曲线进行分析,获得了静止和横摇条件下堆芯发生核热耦合流动不稳定性时通道的频谱特性。研究表明,静止条件下堆芯发生流动不稳定性时仅具有1个频率峰值,其对应固有频率;在横摇条件下堆芯发生流动不稳定性时,堆芯所有通道均受到横摇条件和核热耦合效应影响,但只有最高功率通道中固有频率处于支配地位,该类功率通道首先发生流动不稳定性。FFT方法可精确地分析复杂流量振荡曲线的特性,进而判定横摇下堆芯核热耦合系统是否发生流动不稳定性。     

A neutronic experiment to support the design of an Indian TBM shield module for ITER

A shield module is associated with an Indian Test Blanket Module (TBM) in ITER to limit the radiation doses in port inter-space areas. The shield module is made of stainless steel plates and water channels. It is identified as an important component for radiation protection because of its radiation exposure control functionality. The radiation protection classification leads to more assurance of the component design. In order to validate and verify the design of the shield module, a neutronic laboratory-scale experiment is designed and executed. The experiment is planned by considering the irradiation under a neutron source of 14 MeV and yields of 10 10 ns ⁻¹. The reference neutron spectrum of the ITER TBM shield module has been achieved through optimization of the neutron source spectrum by a combination of steel and lead materials. The neutron spectrum and flux are measured using a multiple foil activation technique and neutron dose-rate meter LB 6411 (He-3 proton recoil counter with polyethylene), respectively. The neutronic design simulation is assessed using MCNP5 and FENDL 2.1 cross-section data. The paper covers neutronic design, irradiation and the outcome of the experiment in detail.     

Utilization of TRISO Fuel with LWR Spent Fuel in Fusion-Fission Hybrid Reactor System

HTRs use a high performance particulate TRISO fuel with ceramic multi-layer coatings due to the high burn up capability and very neutronic performance. TRISO fuel because of capable of high burn up and very neutronic performance is conducted in a D-T fusion driven hybrid reactor. In this study, TRISO fuels particles are imbedded body-centered cubic (BCC) in a graphite matrix with a volume fraction of 68%. The neutronic effect of TRISO coated LWR spent fuel in the fuel rod used hybrid reactor on the fuel performance has been investigated for Flibe, Flinabe and Li₂₀Sn₈₀ coolants. The reactor operation time with the different first neutron wall loads is 24 months. Neutron transport calculations are evaluated by using XSDRNPM/SCALE 5 codes with 238 group cross section library. The effect of TRISO coated LWR spent fuel in the fuel rod used hybrid reactor on tritium breeding (TBR), energy multiplication (M), fissile fuel breeding, average burn up values are comparatively investigated. It is shown that the high burn up can be achieved with TRISO fuel in the hybrid reactor.     

Elimination of recriticality potential for the Self-Consistent Nuclear Energy System

The ultimate safety goal of the Self-consistent Nuclear Energy System (SCNES) is to eliminate the recriticality-problem based on a simple safety logic. The principle of the elimination of the recriticality-problem is the Controlled Material Relocation (CMR) to establish the neutronic shutdown by removing the molten fuel to the out of core before a large scale pool formation which has potential of energetics driven by a super prompt criticality.

The CMR concept should be reliable without significant impact on the core neutronic performance. As the typical core concepts to enhance this CMR characteristic, several design options are under consideration. They are fuel assemblies with inner duct structure (FAIDUS), fuel assemblies with hollow fuel pins in the axial blanket region (ABLE) for MOX fueled cores, and fuel assemblies without fuel pin bundle structure in the lower axial blanket region (ELAB) for the metallic fueled core. Based on the core design study and accident analyses, these CMR-oriented concepts have been found feasible without significant degradation of the neutronic performance

In order to experimentally confirm the effectiveness of the CMR concept for the MOX fueled core, the EAGLE project has been started in 1998 by Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) and The Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC). The EAGLE project is the experimental program utilizing the out-of pile test facility and in-pile facility IGR of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC/RK).     

The effect of high pressure test loop (HPTL) on the Reactivity of ET-RR-2 reactor

The second Egyptian Research Reactor ET-RR-2 is a multipurpose research reactor. It is an open pool type, with nominal power of 22 MW water-cooled. The reactor pool is designed to accommodate two fuel test loops mainly 500 and 20 KW loop in the reactor reflector to enable performing experiments on the behavior of fuel rods for nuclear reactors under their operating conditions. For that, inserted high-pressure test loop (HPTL) loaded with suggested CANDU type fuel element in the reactor core is important to achieve the above reason. From the neutronic safety point of view, it is necessary to study the mutual neutronic and reactivity effect between the reactor core and HPTL. This paper aimed at the study of the temperature coefficients of fuel and moderator of the CANDU type fuel element at different ²³⁵U enrichments, and the effect of HPTL on the reactor core reactivity. The effect of flooding the contact second shut down system (SSS) chamber with water and gadolinium nitrate on the reactor core reactivity in the presence of HPTL. All analysis was performed with the WIMSD4 and DIXY2 codes. This study shows that, an unacceptable change of reactor core reactivity was found due to the presence of the HPTL and the maximum inserted reactivity does not exceed 527 pcm at high possible ²³⁵U enrichment (10%).     

基于CITATION-ORIGEN2球床堆平衡态计算程序的实现

基于确定论中子扩散软件CITATION和点燃耗软件ORIGEN2,编写了球床堆分析程序COBBLE,以实现指定燃料球加载策略下的球床堆平衡态燃耗计算。COBBLE程序采用谱区能谱修正方法,通过迭代求解得到球床堆堆芯平衡态参数。本文选取简化的球床模块高温气冷堆(PBMR)堆芯进行建模,计算其功率分布及燃耗分布,并使用基于蒙特卡罗方法的球床堆燃耗计算程序PBRE进行了验证与分析。结果表明,COBBLE程序适用于球床堆的平衡态燃耗计算。     

Neutronic analysis for the IFMIF target and test cell using a new CAD-based geometry model

This work presents neutronic analyses to support the IFMIF target and test cell (TTC) design in the framework of the Broader Approach activities. A very detailed Monte Carlo geometry model of IFMIF TTC based on the modular TTC concept was prepared directly from a CAD model by using the McCad conversion software which has been developed at KIT. The Monte Carlo code McDeLicious, which is an enhancement to MCNP5, was utilized and nuclear heating, displacement damage and gas production rates in the TTC vessel wall were calculated. The calculation result shows that there are two prominent peaks; downstream of the test modules due to the high energy neutron contribution for gas productions and upstream due to neutron back-streaming along the beam ducts. The result suggests it is very important in the neutronic analysis to consider the detailed configuration of TTC and test modules. The dose rate distribution during operation has been assessed for the rooms adjacent to TTC across thick surrounding walls. The necessary thickness for the shielding walls has been examined. The result demonstrates the substantial improvement in the shielding capability for the top access cell with the present TTC design.     

核反馈对并联双通道自然循环系统流动不稳定性的影响

将热工水力系统分析程序RELAP5与三维物理瞬态输运程序TDOT T采用并行方式耦合,对并联双通道自然循环系统内核热耦合不稳定性进行分析,得到系统的不稳定边界。分别以燃料时间常数差异较大的板型元件及棒型元件为对象,讨论了核反馈对系统稳定性的影响。对于板型元件,核反馈作用对低含汽率区的第1类密度波振荡（DWO）有明显的抑制作用,而对高含汽率区的第2类DWO基本无影响。对于棒型元件,计算分析结果表明核反馈对系统稳定性几乎无影响。     

Neutronic simulation of water-based nanofluids as a coolant in VVER-1000 reactor

The main goal of this study is to perform the neutronic simulation of nanofluids application to reactor core. The variation of the Bushehr VVER-1000 reactor primary neutronics parameters is investigated with using different nanofluids as coolant. In the present neutronic simulation, water-based nanofluids containing various volume fractions of Al₂O₃, Si, Zr, TiO₂, CuO, Ti, Cu and Ag nanoparticles are investigated. Optimization of type and volume fraction of nanoparticles affects the reactor neutronic characteristics. The results achieved by using WIMS and CITATION codes, show that below 0.1 percent volume fraction of Al₂O₃ is the optimum nanoparticle for normal operation and Ag/water nanofluid is suggested to use as a reactor safety enhancement tool.     

Introducing and validating a new method for coupling neutronic and thermal-hydraulic calculations

In this study, a new and innovative method is introduced for analyzing neutronic and thermal-hydraulic calculation. For this aim, VVR-S research reactor was selected, and the calculation procedure was performed for it. WIMS, CITATION and COBRA-EN codes were used for investigation. Calculation model consists of two sub-models: neutronic and thermo-hydraulic. The neutronic model uses WIMS and CITATION codes for neutronic simulation of the reactor core and calculating flux and power distribution over it. WIMS code simulates the fuel assemblies and CITATION models the core. The thermal-hydraulic model uses COBRA-EN code for performing the relative calculation. In this study, FORTRAN 90 program is used for linking two sub-models and performing the calculation. The proposed procedure is performed for VVR-S analysis and finally, the obtained results are compared with the experimental results that show good agreement with it.     

Spatial neutronic coupling aspects in nuclear reactors

In this paper, an effort is made to gain insights about neutronic coupling and decoupling phenomena of nuclear reactors and its consequences on their safety and stability. The neutronic coupling and decoupling aspects are investigated using eigenvalue separation (EVS) methodology. Higher harmonic eigenvalues are calculated by the method of mode subtraction. The eigenvalue separation for a typical 1000 MWe PWR is calculated and its relations with reactor core shape and size and consequent effects on spatial stability are investigated. It is demonstrated quantitatively that it is necessary to optimize height to diameter (H/D) ratio to suppress the susceptibility to multimode oscillations and to enable ease in designing spatial control algorithm. Consequences of extreme H/D ratio are also addressed. Optimum shape of the reactor core is investigated and the evaluation of upper limit of about 1.3 for H/D ratio has been carried out for large PWR cores. Safety implications of neutronic loose coupling on departure from nucleate boiling ratio (DNBR) are also addressed.     

BWR core-wide stability analysis with respect to dominant feedback mechanisms and characteristic poles

BWR core-wide stability is studied from the viewpoint of linear dynamic stability treated via poles of a closed-loop transfer function. The quantitative study is performed using a BWR noise model describing neutronic and thermal-hydraulic core dynamics. Transfer functions of neutron power to reactivity and core inlet flow are derived in explicit forms and their poles are evaluated both numerically and analytically. It is shown that the characteristic poles may be classed into three groups relating to neutronic process, fuel heat transfer and core void dynamics. In particular, the poles for the void dynamics take complex values and hence give rise to core-wide damped oscillation of neutron power. Furthermore, the study of characteristic poles serves for the stability analysis of the Ringhals-1 benchmark test data. It is shown and clarified that two stability indexes, decay ratio and resonance frequency, have clear dependence on reactor power and core inlet flow.     

Neutronic analysis for Tehran Research Reactor mixed-core

In this research, neutronic calculation of current low enriched uranium control fuel elements replacement with high enriched uranium control fuel elements in the reference core of Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) has been investigated and the results of calculations are compared with the TRR neutronic safety criteria. Results show that all neutronic parameters of the reference and each mixed-core are lower than the safety criteria. Nuclear reactor analysis codes including MTR_PC package and MCNP5 were employed to carry out these calculations.