Computational analysis of neutronic parameters for TRIGA Mark-II research reactor using evaluated nuclear data libraries

The aim of this study is to analyze the neutronic parameters of TRIGA Mark-II research reactor using the chain of NJOY-WIMS-CITATION computer codes based on evaluated nuclear data libraries CENDL-2.2 and JEFF-3.1.1. The nuclear data processing code NJOY99.0 has been employed to generate the 69 group WIMS library for the isotopes of TRIGA core. The cell code WIMSD-5B was used to generate the cross sections in CITATION format and then 3-dimensional diffusion code CITTATION was used to calculate the neutronic parameters of the TRIGA Mark-II research reactor. All the analyses were performed using the 7-group macroscopic cross section library. The CITATION test-runs using different cross section sets based on different models applied in WIMS calculations have shown a strong influence of those models on the final integral parameters. Some of the cells were specially treated with PRIZE options available in WIMSD-5B to take into account the fine structure of the flux gradient in the fuel-reflector interface region. It was observed that two basic parameters, the effective multiplication factor, k_eff and the thermal neutron flux, were in good agreement among the calculated results with each other as well as the measured values. The maximum power densities at the hot spot were 1.0446E02 W/cc and 1.0426E02 W/cc for the libraries CENDL-2.2 and JEFF-3.1.1 respectively. The calculated total peaking factors 5.793 and 5.745 were compared to the original SAR value of 5.6325 as well as MCNP result. Consequently, this analysis will be helpful to enhance the neutronic calculations and also be used for the further thermal–hydraulics study of the TRIGA core.     

The neutronic potential of nuclear power for long-term radioactivity risk reduction

An analysis to evaluate the comparative neutronic transmutation potential of different nuclear power system (standard or advanced fission reactors and accelerator driven hybrids) is presented. The analysis is based on an evaluation of neutronic constraints for the reduction of both long-lived fission product toxicity and fuel waste toxicity integrated over the life of the nuclide families, taking into account the overall neutron balance of the systems being considered.     

BWR stability analyses with SIMULATE-3K benchmark against measured plant data

The best-estimate coupled neutronic/thermal-hydraulics code, SIMULATE-3K (S3K), is used by many utilities, research institutes, and regulatory authorities in Europe for performing BWR stability analysis. Analysis of many measured BWR stability tests (often performed in European BWRs) provides the basis for the validation for stability parameter calculations (decay ratio and natural frequency) with S3K. This paper summarizes part of the extensive validation database for the code, and discusses the influence of fuel pin model parameters on the stability results.     

Earthquake response analysis for a BWR nuclear power plant using recorded data

In the dynamic analysis of complicated structures such as nuclear power plants, it is necessary to consider different damping characteristics for each structural element.

The authors have developed a computer program for the dynamic analysis based on the internal viscous damping theory and have recently performed a vibration test and earthquake observations of an actual nuclear power plant. The data resulting from the test and observation were applied to the program and the dynamic response of each part of the plant was computed.

A close agreement was noted between the computed and recorded acceleration-time histories as well as acceleration-response spectra. The authors conclude that their analyzing system might be one of the most reliable methods for the design of the nuclear power plants.     

Improved analysis for matrix effect correction in LLW neutronic assay

The matrix effect correction for the differential die-away (DDA) measurement is an improvement in the fissile material content determination. In low-level radioactive waste (LLW) packages examination, the most widely used methods are based on neutron flux monitoring with ³He tubes, associated to a “matrix interrogation source” (MIS) originally developed for passive neutron measurement and which determine an experimental detection efficiency. This paper describes two new approaches developed with the goal of increasing the accuracy of the matrix effect correction and reducing the measurement time, which is a major objective in the non destructive assay (NDA) of large number of waste packages. The first method is based on an active prompt neutron coincidence measurement using a new generation list mode data card, which is an alternative to the MIS. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to determine the correction function parameters. An experimental agreement within 20% is obtained with a fissile sample localized at the centre of different matrices provided that the positioning effect remains negligible. Homogeneous distributions of the fissile material have also been simulated and lead to a deviation less than 15% for most of the cases. The second method exploits the effect of matrices on the total active signal. A simulated annealing algorithm, using a reference data base of multi-channel scaling (MCS) spectra, is performed to fit the raw signal. The construction of the MCS library involves a learning phase to define and acquire the DDA signals as representative as possible of the real measurement conditions. Most of the cases are within a 4% agreement interval with the expected experimental value.     

Three-dimensional neutronic analysis of the ITER in-vessel coils

A complete neutronic analysis has been performed for the design of the in-vessel coil systems using the MCNP5 Monte Carlo Code in a full 3-D geometry. A detailed geometry of ELM and VS coils based on the latest design specifications has been integrated into the latest version of 40° sector of ITER MCNP model. Nuclear heating and helium production in the coils, absorbed dose in the insulator, dpa and transmutation of copper-alloy and neutron fluxes have been calculated. Neutron spectra have been used as input for an activation analysis performed with FISPACT inventory code for safety analysis and waste classification. The impact of the gaps between blanket modules and of the manifolds on the nuclear parameters has been evaluated as well as the effect on vacuum vessel reweldability. Different options for the conductor and the insulator have been examined.     

Investigation of the infinite medium integral neutronic data for incident fusion source neutrons

In the present work, the physical behavior of integral data in infinite medium has been evaluated for incident fusion neutrons with the help to the 3-D Monte Carlo code. In a fusion reactor blanket with finite dimension, the integral quantities will be more or less different from the infinitive medium results, depending on the neutron leakage fraction. Design studies foresee the reduction of the neutron leakage out of the blanket as possible in order to prevent the nuclear heating in super conducting fusion magnets and to keep all neutrons primarily in the coolant. The most important materials in fusion technology, namely tritium, beryllium, lead, thorium, and uranium have been investigated in infinitive medium. The main purpose of this work is to calculate the integral tritium breeding ratio, ²³³U breeding rate, ²³⁹Pu breeding rate, heat release, neutron multiplication ratio through (n,x) and fission (when applicable) reactions in those mixtures which are composed when first UO₂ and ThO₂ are mixed with natural lithium (Nat.Li) or ⁶Li for a volume fraction from 0 to 100%. Then the variable UO₂-Nat.Li (UO₂ mixed with Nat.Li) and UO₂-⁶Li (UO₂ mixed with ⁶Li) compositions will be mixed with Beryllium (Be) and Lead (Pb) for a volume fraction from 0 to 100%. However, the variable TO₂-Nat.Li (ThO₂ mixed with Nat.Li) and ThO₂-⁶Li (ThO₂ mixed with ⁶Li) compositions will be mixed with Be and Pb for a volume fraction mentioned above.     

Steady-state neutronic analysis of converting the UK CONSORT reactor for ADS experiments

CONSORT is the UK’s last remaining civilian research reactor, and its present core is soon to be removed. This study examines the feasibility of re-using the reactor facility for accelerator-driven systems research by replacing the fuel and installing a spallation neutron target driven by an external proton accelerator. MCNP5/MCNPX were used to model alternative, high-density fuels and their coupling to the neutrons generated by 230 MeV protons from a cyclotron striking a solid tungsten spallation target side-on to the core. Low-enriched U₃Si₂ and U–9Mo were considered as candidates, with only U–9Mo found to be feasible in the compact core; fuel element size and arrangement were kept the same as the original core layout to minimise thermal hydraulic and other changes. Reactor thermal power up to 2.5 kW is predicted for a k_eff of 0.995, large enough to carry out reactor kinetic experiments.     

Three-dimensional neutronic calculations for a fusion breeder APEX reactor using some libraries

The effects of evaluated nuclear data files on neutronics characteristics of a fusion–fission hybrid reactor have been analyzed; three-dimensional calculations have been made using the MCNP4C Monte Carlo Code for ENDF/B-VII T = 300 K, JEFF-3.0 T = 300 K, and CENDL-2 T = 300 K evaluated nuclear data files. The nuclear parameters of a fusion–fission hybrid reactor such as tritium breeding ratio, energy multiplication factor, fissile fuel breeding and nuclear heating in a first wall, blanket and shield have been investigated for the mixture components of 90% Flibe (Li₂BeF₄) and 10% UF₄ for a blanket layer thickness of 50 cm. The contributions of each isotope of Flibe (⁶Li, ⁷Li, ¹⁹F, ⁹Be) and UF₄ (²³⁵U, ²³⁸U) to the integrated parameter values were calculated. The neutron wall load is assumed to be 10 MW/m².     

A fuzzy data envelopment analysis approach for FMEA

We present a data envelopment analysis approach for determining ranking indices among failure modes in which the typical FMEA parameters are modeled as fuzzy sets. By this approach, inference rules of the IF THEN kind can be bypassed. The proposed approach is applied to a typical PWR auxiliary feedwater system. The results are compared to those obtained by means of: the risk priority numbers, pure fuzzy logic concepts, and finally the DEA-APGF (profiling of severity efficiency) approach. The results demonstrate the potential of the combination of fuzzy logic concepts and data envelopment analysis for this class of problems.     

混合评价核数据库HENDL1.0的研制与基准检验

为满足聚变 裂变次临界混合堆设计和其他相关研究的需要 ,以世界几个主要基本评价核数据库为数据来源 ,通过优选建立了名为HENDL1 .0 /E的多用途核数据库 ,采用国际通行的核数据库处理程序系统NJOY和TRANSX等程序制作了相应的工作数据库 ,其中包括多能群输运截面库HENDL1 .0 /MG、连续能量点状输运截面库HENDL1 .0 /MC、燃耗数据库HENDL1 .0 /BU和响应函数库HENDL1 .0 /RF ,利用世界上流行的中子输运程序对已有的一系列基准检验实验进行模拟计算和比较分析以检验混合库HENDL1 .0的正确性和有效性。     

Contributions to the neutronic analysis of a gas-cooled fast reactor

In this work the Monte Carlo codes MCNPX and TRIPOLI-4 were used to perform the criticality calculations of the fuel assembly and the core configuration of a gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR) concept, currently in development. The objective is to make contributions to the neutronic analysis of a gas-cooled fast reactor. In this study the fuel assembly is based on a hexagonal lattice of fuel-pins. The materials used are uranium and plutonium carbide as fuel, silicon carbide as cladding, and helium gas as coolant. Criticality calculations were done for a fuel assembly where the axial reflector thickness was varied in order to find the optimal thickness. In order to determine the best material to be used as a reflector, in the reactor core with neutrons of high energy spectrum, criticality calculations were done for three reflector materials: zirconium carbide, silicon carbide and natural uranium. It was found that the zirconium carbide provides the best neutron reflection. Criticality calculations using different active heights were done to determine the optimal height, and the reflector thickness was adjusted. Core criticality calculations were performed with different radius sizes to determine the active radial dimension of the core. A negative temperature coefficient of reactivity was verified for the fuel. The effect on reactivity produced by changes in the coolant density was also evaluated. We present the main neutronic characteristics of a preliminary fuel and core designs for the GFR concept. ENDF-VI cross-sections libraries were used in both the MCNPX and TRIPOLI-4 codes, and we verified that the obtained results are very similar.     

Detail analysis of fusion neutronics benchmark experiment for iron

In order to specify the best nuclear data on iron, the fusion neutronics benchmark experiment on iron at Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)/Fusion Neutronics Source (FNS) was analyzed in detail with MCNP-4C and the latest nuclear data libraries, JENDL-3.3, FENDL-2.1, JEFF-3.1 and ENDF/B-VII.0. As a result, totally the calculation result with ENDF/B-VII.0 agreed with the measurement best, except that it underestimated the measured neutron flux above 10 MeV with the depth. It was noted that the calculation result with JENDL-3.3 overestimated the measured neutrons below a few keV. Through the DORT calculations based on the iron data in ENDF/B-VII.0, it was found out that the first inelastic scattering cross-section data of ⁵⁷Fe in JENDL-3.3 caused the overestimation.     

10 MW固态燃料钍基熔盐堆稳态物理-热工耦合

固态燃料钍基熔盐堆(Thorium Molten Salt Reactor-Solid Fuel,TMSR-SF1)作为第四代先进核反应堆堆型之一,继承了熔盐冷却剂和球形燃料元件的许多优点和技术基础,具有良好的经济性、设计上的固有安全性、钍铀燃料的可持续性和防核扩散性。本文以10 MW固态燃料钍基熔盐堆为模型,利用MCNP(Monte Carlo N Particle Transport Code)和ANSYS Fluent等模拟程序对其进行多物理耦合分析,同时利用C++语言编写了堆芯活性区的物理-热工耦合计算程序,实现了MCNP计算结果与Fluent程序的对接,并且通过对比耦合前后结果,分析了堆芯功率密度分布、有效增殖因子、温度分布等主要参数,为熔盐堆的设计、安全性评估和操作运行提供了参考依据。     

Parametric neutronic analysis of HCLL blanket for DEMO fusion reactor utilizing vacuum vessel ITER FDR design

Three-dimensional parametric neutronics calculations using the Monte Carlo code MCNP-4C have been performed for a DEMO-type reactor based on the Helium-Cooled Lithium-Lead (HCLL) blanket. The aim of the analysis was to minimize the radial blanket thickness, while ensuring tritium self-sufficiency and to assess the shielding performance of the reactor in terms of the radiation loads to the super-conducting toroidal field (TF) coils. It was found that tritium self-sufficiency can be achieved with a breeder zone thickness reduced to no more than 55 cm at a ⁶Li enrichment of 90%. Assuming a ⁶Li enrichment of 60%, a breeder zone thickness of 60 cm is required to achieve the target TBR of 1.10 which is assumed to be sufficient to cover potential tritium losses and uncertainties. With regard to the shielding performance it was found that the design limits for the radiation loads to the TF-coil can be met with radial blanket thicknesses of 75 cm, 60 cm and 55 cm utilizing a two-component shield of Eurofer steel and tungsten carbide between the breeder zone and the vacuum vessel. The blanket variants with larger radial breeder zone show better shielding performances due to the reduced Eurofer shielding material acting as gamma radiation emitter in between the breeder zone and the vacuum vessel. In particular the radiation dose absorbed in the Epoxy insulator was shown to be the most critical quantity in this regard.     

Beam stability improvement of the HIMAC synchrotron using a feed-forward system for magnet power supplies

In order to realize a precise dose distribution in heavy-ion cancer therapy, high beam stability is required for the accelerator complex. Owing to load fluctuation caused by the upper ring, which is one of the two rings in HIMAC, current dips of ≈5-10 Hz were observed in the power supply for the bending/quadrupole magnet of the other lower ring. The parameters of the beam stability, such as the spill variation, the beam position, and the size, were adversely affected by the current dips. In order to suppress these current dips, we developed a new feed-forward system in the magnet power supply. We verified the performance of the feed-forward system by measuring the suppression of the current dips. We also performed beam experiments to measure the variation of the horizontal tune and the structure of the beam spill, which is slowly extracted by the resonance method. The experimental result showed that the current dips were successfully reduced by the system to ΔI/I ∼ 10⁻⁶. It was also confirmed that the horizontal tune and the spill structure could be stabilized by the current dip suppression.     

Improving the fidelity of electrically heated nuclear systems testing using simulated neutronic feedback

Nonnuclear test platforms and methodologies can be employed to reduce the overall cost, risk and complexity of testing nuclear systems while allowing one to evaluate the operation of an integrated nuclear system within a reasonable timeframe, providing valuable input to the overall system design. In a nonnuclear test bed, electric heaters are used to simulate the heat from nuclear fuel. Standard electric test techniques allow one to fully assess thermal, heat transfer, and stress related attributes of a given system, but these approaches fail to demonstrate the dynamic response that would be present in an integrated, fueled reactor system. The integration of thermal hydraulic hardware tests with simulated neutronic response provides a bridge between electrically heated testing and testing with nuclear fuel elements installed. By implementing a neutronic response model to simulate the dynamic response that would be expected in a fueled reactor system, one can better understand system integration issues, characterize integrated system response times and response characteristics, and assess potential design improvements at a relatively small fiscal investment. This paper summarizes the results of initial system dynamic response testing for two electrically heated reactor concepts: a heat pipe-cooled reactor simulator with integrated heat exchanger and a gas-cooled reactor simulator with integrated Brayton power conversion system. Initial applications apply a simplified reactor kinetics model with either a single or an averaged measured state point. Preliminary results demonstrate the applicability of the dynamic test methodology to any reactor type, elucidating the variation in system response characteristics in different reactor concepts. These results suggest a need to further enhance the dynamic test approach by incorporating a more accurate model of the reactor dynamics and improved hardware instrumentation for better state estimation in application of the simulated response control loop.     

Coupled neutronic thermo-hydraulic analysis of full PWR core with Monte-Carlo based BGCore system

BGCore reactor analysis system was recently developed at Ben-Gurion University for calculating in-core fuel composition and spent fuel emissions following discharge. It couples the Monte Carlo transport code MCNP with an independently developed burnup and decay module SARAF. Most of the existing MCNP based depletion codes (e.g. MOCUP, Monteburns, MCODE) tally directly the one-group fluxes and reaction rates in order to prepare one-group cross sections necessary for the fuel depletion analysis. BGCore, on the other hand, uses a multi-group (MG) approach for generation of one group cross-sections. This coupling approach significantly reduces the code execution time without compromising the accuracy of the results.Substantial reduction in the BGCore code execution time allows consideration of problems with much higher degree of complexity, such as introduction of thermal hydraulic (TH) feedback into the calculation scheme. Recently, a simplified TH feedback module, THERMO, was developed and integrated into the BGCore system. To demonstrate the capabilities of the upgraded BGCore system, a coupled neutronic TH analysis of a full PWR core was performed. The BGCore results were compared with those of the state of the art 3D deterministic nodal diffusion code DYN3D (Grundmann et al., 2000). Very good agreement in major core operational parameters including k-eff eigenvalue, axial and radial power profiles, and temperature distributions between the BGCore and DYN3D results was observed. This agreement confirms the consistency of the implementation of the TH feedback module.Although the upgraded BGCore system is capable of performing both, depletion and TH analyses, the calculations in this study were performed for the beginning of cycle state with pre-generated fuel compositions.