Calculation of Deep Burnup of Nuclear Fuel in Lattices with a Regulatable Neutron Spectrum

A method of calculating the burnup of nuclear fuel in breeding media with a regulatable neutron spectrum is described. Application of the method of small perturbations in the two-group approximation made it possible to supplement the system of equations for the variation of the nuclide composition of the fuel by an equation describing the variation of the spectrum hardness during fuel burnup, for which a prescribed criticality level is maintained. The results obtained are used as a basis for developing an algorithm for determining the breeding properties of a system with a regulatable neutron spectrum and its dynamical characteristics during fuel burnup.__________Translated from Atomnaya Energiya, Vol. 98, No. 6, pp. 429–435, June 2005.     

Evolution of the neutron sensor characteristics in the RBMK-1500 reactor neutron flux

Variation of characteristics of the RBMK-1500 reactor radial neutron flux sensors with the HfO₂ emitter during long-term maintenance was investigated. The influence of nuclear fuel enrichment and burnable erbium admixtures on the energy neutron spectrum, neutron absorption, and hafnium isotopic composition variation was considered. The dependences of corrective factors of the neutron sensor signal on the nuclear fuel burnup depth and the integral current accumulated by the sensor for different enrichment nuclear fuel are presented in the work. The experimental verification of the calculated dependence of the sensor corrective factor on the accumulated integral current was performed.     

Effect of burnup on the neutronic parameters of ITU TRIGA Mark II research reactor

This study aims to estimate burnup of the fuel elements for the Istanbul Technical University TRIGA Mark II Research and Training Reactor using a Monte Carlo-based burnup-depletion code. Effect of burnup on the core neutronic parameters, effective core multiplication factor, fast/epithermal/thermal neutron fluxes, and core-average neutron spectrum, and incoming neutron spectrum of the piercing beam port (PBP), is investigated at the Beginning of Life (BOL) and End of Life (EOL). Operational data peculiar to a selected operation sequence, which contains positions of CRs, power level of the reactor, material temperatures and latest core map, are used to determine the current fuel burnup of fuel elements at the time under consideration. A specific operation sequence is selected for the analysis. Furthermore, all control rods are considered fully withdrawn to assess the excess reactivity. Results are obtained using MONTEBURNS2 with ENDFB/V-II.1 neutron/photon library for a full power of 250 kW. Neutron cross-section libraries at the full-power operating temperatures are generated using NJOY. From the results, the calculated burnup values of the core at the sequence considered and EOL are found to be 420 MWh and 560 MWh, respectively. Remaining excess reactivity is calculated to be less than 0.3 $. It is observed that core average thermal neutron flux reduces by 1 % while the fast and epithermal neutron fluxes remain almost unchanged.     

中子能谱对压水堆慢化剂温度系数的影响分析

在压水堆中,水铀比和²³⁵U富集度是影响中子能谱分布的重要参数。本工作在不同水铀比、²³⁵U富集度下分析两群中子能谱随燃耗的变化。利用中子能谱分布对慢化剂温度系数的变化进行分析,结果表明：在给定²³⁵U富集度条件下,随着水铀比的变化,堆芯存在一慢化剂温度系数绝对值最大值;²³⁵U富集度的增加、燃耗的加深,不一定导致慢化剂温度系数绝对值增大。     

铅基快堆RBEC-M燃耗库制作方法研究及验证

      提出了一套新的方法流程，用来处理和生成燃耗计算所需的数据。利用核数据处理程序NJOY处理评价数据库ENDF-B-Ⅶ.1生成33群的MATXS格式库，再根据具体问题中的材料信息，经截面处理程序MGGC处理得到相关核素的微观、宏观截面，经自编写的处理模块Triso对其进行格式转化、合并，最终得到提供给燃耗计算程序使用的ISOTXS库文件，其中一般核素以微观截面的形式表示，裂变产物以类似宏观截面的伪裂变产物形式表示。对铅冷快堆基准题900 MW RBEC-M进行了计算，采用REBUS-3进行燃耗计算，对比了结果中的有效增殖系数k_eff随燃耗的变化趋势、功率分布以及中子能谱，最终结果与参考报告较为符合，初步验证了这一系列燃耗库制作流程的可行性。      

Speed-up of cross-section collapsing with weight-window for subcritical burnup calculation

In the author’s group, a fusion–fission (FF) hybrid energy system has been analyzed using our own burnup calculation system consisting of Monte Carlo transport code MCNP-4C and point burnup code ORIGEN2.1. Since the neutron energy spectrum changes along with progress of burnup in a subcritical system, it is necessary to update one-group cross-section library in each burnup step. The one-group cross-sections are normally updated by collapsing the evaluated nuclear data such as JENDL and ENDF using a neutron flux calculated by an appropriate transport code such as MCNP. The collapsed cross-sections are handed over to ORIGEN, and the reaction rates for burnup of elements are thereafter estimated accurately.As well known, MCNP generates track-length (TL) data in the neutron transport calculation, which are base data to estimate the neutron flux. We thus use the track-length data directly instead of the calculated neutron flux, in order to evaluate the reaction rate as accurately as possible. However, the number of TLs becomes extremely large and thus it takes a longer computation time. We therefore reduce the number of TLs used in the cross-section collapsing process as far as the accuracy is conserved. However, in some energy region the number of TLs is inversely too small to conserve the original cross-section accuracy of the evaluated nuclear data files, because the number of TL data per unit energy is smaller than that of the nuclear data.In the present study, the weight-window (WW) technique of MCNP was applied to our burnup calculation system in order to control the number of TLs in such an energy region artificially and to complete the collapsing process accurately in the whole energy region. As a result, the variance of the calculated neutron flux thus deteriorates slightly, but the number of TLs could be successfully adjusted to conserve the accuracy of the nuclear data file in the whole energy region. And the accurate reaction rate estimation for burnup with MCNP was finally realized and simultaneously the computation time could be saved reasonably.     

~(238)Np全套中子数据更新评价

裂变核全套中子评价数据为反应堆设计和安全运行、乏燃料次锕系核素嬗变、嬗变系统及高燃耗反应堆设计提供重要的基础数据。本文以一套全新的n+238 Np的中子光学模型势参数为基础进行理论分析,并根据Np各同位素反应截面系统变化规律,对模型势参数进行了调整,最后完成了全套中子数据的更新评价,与CENDL-3.1评价结果相比有较明显的改进。     

Neutronics and burnup analysis of an accelerator-based tru-nitride fuel transmutation system with the ATRAS code

The neutronics and burnup analyses of an accelerator-based transmutation system with tungsten target and TRU-nitride fuel were performed with a newly developed code system named ATRAS (Accelerator-based Transmutation Reactor Analysis System). The ATRAS code is an integrated code system which can perform the hadronic cascade process above 20 MeV and neutron transport and core burnup process below 20 MeV with the spallation neutron source.

The specifications of the transmutation system are investigated. The core consists of the central spallation target region and the surrounding TRU-mononitride fuel region. The core is driven by protons at an energy of 1.0 GeV. This system was also proposed as a benchmark problem in the “OECD NEA/NSC Benchmark on Physics aspects of Different Transmutation Concepts”.

According to the calculation results by the ATRAS code, higher power density and transmutation rate were achieved with nitride fuel, and the neutron spectrum was slightly harder than that of the metallic fuel system. The burnup calculation for thermal power 800 MW was also performed with the ATRAS code. It is shown that about 300 kg of TRU are transmuted annually.     

Calculation of radial burnup and nuclides atom density distributions in a VVER-1000 fuel rod using Monte Carlo method

A fundamental knowledge of fuel behavior in different situations is required for safe and economic nuclear power generation. Due to the importance of a fuel rod behavior modelling in high burnup, in this paper, the radial distribution of burnup, fission products, and actinides atom density and their variations by increasing burnup and other factors such as temperature, enrichment and power density are studied in a fuel pellet of a VVER-1000 reactor in an operational cycle using the MCNPX 2.7 Monte Carlo code. A benchmark including a Uranium-Gadolinium (UGD) fuel assembly is used for verification of the developed model in the MCNPX code for radial burnup calculation. A sensitivity study is carried out to investigate the effect of different parameters such as the number of particles per cycle, the number of geometrical radial nodes in the fuel pellet, the number of burnup steps and the selection of different fission-product contents (i.e. those isotopes that are used for particle transport) on the MCNPX model for speed and accuracy compromising. To calculate the radial temperature profiles and to analyze the effect of temperature on the radial burnup distribution and vice versa, the HEATING 7.2 code, which is a general-purpose conduction heat transfer program, and the MCNPX code are applied together. The results show the accuracy and capability of the proposed model in the MCNPX and HEATING codes for radial burnup calculation.     

钍基柱状高温气冷堆不同启动燃料特性初步分析

钍是一种可转换材料,将其转换成²³³U能极大提高现有核燃料资源的储量。为实现对钍的合理利用,以模块式柱状高温气冷堆GT-MHR的燃料组件作为研究对象,选取低浓缩铀、武器级钚、核反应堆级钚等作为其启动燃料。利用栅格输运计算程序DRAGON对这3种启动燃料下的钍基柱状燃料组件的寿期初中子能谱、无限增殖系数、燃耗、转换比以及²³³U和²³²Th的含量等参数进行了分析。结果表明,在易裂变物质初装量约为9%时,与低浓缩铀和武器级钚相比,核反应堆级钚作为启动燃料时组件寿期初中子能谱较硬、转换比较高;其燃耗达90 GW•d/tHM;其无限增殖系数在寿期内的波动最小;燃耗为75 GW•d/tHM时组件中²³³U存余量与²³²Th消耗量之比达0.566。     

Active reduction of the end effect by local installation of neutron absorbers

In the burnup credit analyses of interim or long-term spent fuel (SF) storage facilities and transport casks, when the average burnup value is greater than approximately 30 GWd/t, the neutron multiplication factor becomes greater if we consider the axial burnup distribution of the spent fuel assembly rather than assuming an average burnup. This phenomenon is called the “end effect” and it is one of the main technical issues in burnup credit research. The end effect is characterized by an increase of the neutron flux around the end regions of the spent fuel assemblies in the criticality calculation. However, such increase of the neutron flux has not been observed in experiments using actual spent fuel assemblies.     

Analysis of Post Irradiation Experiments in PWR Using New Nuclear Data Libraries

For the precise calculation of the burnup of minor actinide isotopes, a code system-SWAT has been developed. This system analyzes burnup problems with neutron spectrum that depends on the type of a reactor and the irradiation history, using latest evaluated nuclear data files JENDL-3 or ENDF/B-Vl. The post irradiation test in TRINO and the recent experiment in typical PWRs in Japan were analyzed with SWAT. These analyses show that the results of U and Pu for high burnup fuels almost agree with experimental results but those for middle burnup fuels do not agree with them. The results for Am and Cm isotopes still have large discrepancy. The average C/E of ²⁴³Am is –0.79, and that of ²⁴⁴Cm is –0.70 for high burnup (–33,000 MWd/tU) samples.

For middle burnup (–25,000 MWd/tU) samples, the C/E for ²⁴⁴Cm is over 2.0. The discrepancy is partially explained by considering the power peaking history of first cycle and second cycle.     

小型长寿命核能系统燃料物理性能的研究

本文在简要说明世界上小型长寿命核能系统研究现状的基础上,提出了使用钍-铀燃料和铅-铋冷却剂构造小型长寿命堆芯的设想,并为此进行了一系列燃料物理性能的研究.对于长寿命核能系统的堆芯物理设计,使反应性随燃耗变动最小非常重要,同时应该尽可能地提高堆芯的燃耗以满足长寿命运行的需求.本文使用MCNP和MCBurn程序详细计算分析了使用不同的初始驱动燃料、不同栅格、燃料成分和类型、富集度条件下,燃料栅元的燃耗反应性变化等性能,并对其进行了能谱、转换比、富集度变化等方面的分析,经过对比初步确定了使用钍-铀燃料构造长寿命堆芯的物理条件,并以此为起点构造出一个堆芯,计算给出了反应性空泡系数等安全参数.     

次临界能源堆物理性能初步分析

次临界能源堆（SER）是由托卡马克聚变源驱动的聚变裂变混合堆。SER以天然铀为燃料、水为冷却剂,主要目标是生产电能。本工作建立了次临界能源堆环形圆柱模型,利用蒙特卡罗输运和燃耗计算程序,比较了燃料区不同构型对k_eff、M、TBR和燃料增殖比等参数的影响,针对均匀模型进行中子源效率与聚变源强、功率分布与能谱、初步燃耗、寿期末停堆衰变热和卸载燃料放射性等物理性能分析。计算结果表明,该模型能满足能量倍增大于6、氚自持、较长时间不换料等设计目标。研究结果为下一步开展SER安全分析提供了基础。     

Influence of Some Factors on Nodular Corrosion Behavior of Zircaloy-2

Burnup is an important parameter in criticality safety evaluations of spent nuclear fuel in which burnup credit is taken into account. The Neodymium-148 method is widely used to evaluate the burnup of post irradiation examination (PIE) samples, and it is well known for its good accuracy. However, accuracy of the evaluated burnup values may be affected by the neutron capture reaction of ¹⁴⁷Nd and ¹⁴⁸Nd. Moreover, in the analysis of PIE data from a PWR, the calculation results of ¹⁴⁸Nd have more than a 1% deviation from the experiment.

In this study, the contribution of neutron capture reactions of ¹⁴⁷Nd and ¹⁴⁸Nd to the amount of ¹⁴⁸Nd is discussed. The PIE data analyses using new evaluation of ¹⁴⁷Nd capture cross section show that the JENDL-3.2 cross section data is overestimated. The change in the amount of ¹⁴⁸Nd due to both reactions is less than 0.7% under normal reactor operation conditions. In particular, it is in the 0.1% range if burnup is approximately 30 GWd/t for a BWR and 40 GWd/t for a PWR.     

Development of a Method for Evaluation of Pin-wise Power Distribution in Fuel Assemblies of Fast Reactors

In the design of fast reactor core with higher burnup and higher linear power, prediction accuracy of burnup history of fuel pin should be upgraded so as to assure fuel integrity without extra design margin under increased neutron fluence and burnup. A method is studied to predict fuel pin-wise power and its burnup history in fast reactors accurately based on an analytic solution of diffusion theory equation on hexagonal geometry with boundary condition from core calculation by finite-differenced diffusion calculation code. The present method is applied to a fast reactor core model, and its accuracy in predicting fuel pin power is tested. The result is compared with the reference solution by the finite difference calculation with very fine mesh. It is found that the present method predicts the power peaking factors in fuel assemblies accurately. The fuel pin-wise nuclide depletion calculation is also done using neutron fluxes for each fuel pin. The result shows that the fuel pin-wise depletion calculation is very important in predicting the burnup history of the fuel assembly in detail.     

Determination of Li-6/Li-7 Isotopic Ratio by Means of Thermogravimetric Analysis for Lithium Sulphate Monohydrate

Plutonium concentrations and burnup at Pu spots were calculated in U-Pu mixed oxide (MOX) fuel pellets for light water reactors with the neutron transport and burnup calculation code VIMBURN. The calculation models were suggested for Pu spots and U matrices in a heterogeneous MOX fuel pellet. The calculated Pu concentrations and burnup at Pu spots were compared with the PIEs data in a MOX pellet (38.8 MWd/kgHM). The calculated Pu concentrations agreed by 5–18% with the measured ones, and the calculated burnup did by less than 10% with the estimated one with the measured Nd concentrations. Commercial PWR types of MOX fuels were also analyzed with the calculation code and the models. Burnup at Pu spot increased as the distance was greater from the radial center of a MOX fuel pellet. Burnup at Pu spots in the peripheral region became 3–5 times higher than pellet average burnup of 40 MWd/kgHM. The diameters (20–100 μm) of Pu spots were not found a significant factor for burnup at Pu spots. In the outer half volume region (outer than r/r _o=0.7) of a MOX fuel pellet, burnup at Pu spots exceeded 70MWd/kgHM (the threshold burnup of microstructure change in UO₂ fuel pellet) at pellet average burnup of 1430 MWd/kgHM.     

液态燃料氯盐快堆最小需求燃耗分析

为探究采用增殖燃烧模式运行的液态燃料氯盐快堆的平均卸料燃耗深度，基于中子平衡分析方法，选取5种常用氯盐，提出在线清除裂变气体和难溶裂变产物方案来维持增殖燃烧运行模式，主要研究分析了氯盐的重金属密度和在线处理方案对最小需求燃耗的影响以及无限栅元模型下维持增殖燃烧模式可接受的堆芯中子损失项。分析表明68NaCl-32UCl₃和20UCl₃-80UCl₄的最小需求燃耗分别是30.47%FIMA（FIMA是指已裂变原子数与初始的总装料金属原子数之比）和10.28%FIMA；清除裂变气体和难溶裂变产物后，60NaCl-40UCl₃可接受的中子损失项从3.49%提高到10.68%。结果表明氯盐的重金属密度对最小需求燃耗有明显影响，同时清除裂变气体和难溶裂变产物能够较大提高燃料盐系统的中子经济性，以及提高增殖燃烧模式运行可接受的堆芯中子损失项。      

聚变-裂变混合能源堆一维计算模型燃耗分析

聚变-裂变混合能源堆包括聚变中子源和以天然铀为燃料、水为冷却剂的次临界包层,主要目标是生产电力。利用输运燃耗耦合程序系统MCORGS计算了混合能源堆一维模型的燃耗,给出了中子有效增殖因数k_eff、能量放大倍数M、氚增殖比TBR等物理量随时间的变化。通过分析能谱和重要核素随燃耗时间的变化,说明混合能源堆与核燃料增殖、核废料嬗变混合堆的不同特点。本文给出的结果可作为混合堆中子输运、燃耗分析程序校验的参考数据,为混合堆概念研究提供了基础数据。     

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.