Neutronic Analyses of the FREYA Experiments in Support of the ALFRED Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Core Design and Licensing

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Sarotto ◽  
Gabriele Firpo ◽  
Anatoly Kochetkov ◽  
Antonin Krása ◽  
Emil Fridman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fast Reactor ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Control Rod ◽  
The Core ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
Reactor Spectrum ◽  
Data Libraries ◽  
Nuclear Data Libraries ◽  
Sensitivity And Uncertainty Analysis

Abstract During the EURATOM FP7 project FREYA, a number of experiments were performed in a critical core assembled in the VENUS-F zero-power reactor able to reproduce the ALFRED lead-cooled fast reactor spectrum in a dedicated island. The experiments dealt with the measurements of integral and local neutronic parameters, such as the core criticality, the control rod and the lead void reactivity worth, the axial distributions of fission rates for the nuclides of major interest in a fast spectrum, the spectral indices of important actinides (238U, 239Pu, 237 Np) with respect to 235U. With the main aim to validate the neutronic codes adopted for the ALFRED core design, the VENUS-F core and its characterization measurements were simulated with both deterministic (ERANOS) and stochastic (MCNP, SERPENT) codes, by adopting different nuclear data libraries (JEFF, ENDF/B, JENDL, TENDL). This paper summarizes the main results obtained by highlighting a general agreement between measurements and simulations, with few discrepancies for some parameters that are discussed here. Additionally, a sensitivity and uncertainty analysis was performed with deterministic methods for the core reactivity: it clearly indicates that the small over-criticality estimated by the different codes/libraries resulted to be lower than the uncertainties due to nuclear data.

scholarly journals Sensitivity and Uncertainty of Criticality

2021 ◽  
pp. 215-243
Author(s):  
Masao Yamanaka
Keyword(s):  
Reactor Core ◽  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Japan Atomic Energy Agency ◽  
Reactor Physics ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Control Rod ◽  
The Core ◽  
Data Libraries ◽  
And Control ◽  
Nuclear Data Libraries

AbstractExcess reactivity and control rod worth are generally considered important reactor physics parameters for experimentally examining the neutron characteristics of criticality in a core, and for maintaining safe operation of the reactor core in terms of neutron multiplication in the core. For excess reactivity and control rod worth at KUCA, as well as at the Fast Critical Assembly in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, special attention is given to analyzing the uncertainty induced by nuclear data libraries based on experimental data of criticality in representative cores (EE1 and E3 cores). Also, the effect of decreasing uncertainty on the accuracy of criticality is discussed in this study. At KUCA, experimental results are accumulated by measurements of excess reactivity and control rod worth. To evaluate the accuracy of experiments for benchmarks, the uncertainty originated from modeling of the core configuration should be discussed in addition to uncertainty induced by nuclear data, since the uncertainty from modeling has a potential to cover the eigenvalue bias more than uncertainty by nuclear data. Here, to investigate the uncertainty of criticality depending on the neutron spectrum of cores, it is very useful to analyze the reactivity of a large number of measurements in typical hard (EE1) and soft (E3) spectrum cores at KUCA.

Criticality Calculations and Basic Sensitivity/Uncertainty Investigation of LR-0 Benchmark Core

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomáš Czakoj ◽  
Evžen Losa
Keyword(s):  
Lithium Fluoride ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Monte Carlo Code ◽  
Multiplication Factor ◽  
Reference Case ◽  
Energy Version ◽  
Data Libraries ◽  
Nuclear Data Libraries

Three-dimensional Monte Carlo code KENO-VI of SCALE-6.2.2 code system was applied for criticality calculation of the LR-0 reactor core. A central module placed in the center of the core was filled by graphite, lithium fluoride-beryllium fluoride (FLIBE), and lithium fluoride-sodium fluoride (FLINA) compounds. The multiplication factor was obtained for all cases using both ENDF/B-VII.0 and ENDF/B-VII.1 nuclear data libraries. Obtained results were compared with benchmark calculations in the MCNP6 using ENDF/B-VII.0 library. The results of KENO-VI calculations are found to be in good agreement with results obtained by the MCNP6. The discrepancies are typically within tens of pcm excluding the case with the FLINA filling. Sensitivities and uncertainties of the reference case with no filling were determined by a continuos-energy version of the TSUNAMI sequence of SCALE-6.2.2. The obtained uncertainty in multiplication factor due to the uncertainties in nuclear data is about 650 pcm with ENDF/B-VII.1.

scholarly journals Impact of delayed neutron constants on reactivity effects measured in a fast reactor

2019 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 03004
Author(s):  
Antonín Krása ◽  
Anatoly Kochetkov ◽  
Nadia Messaoudi ◽  
Alexey Stankovskiy ◽  
Guido Vittiglio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Delayed Neutron ◽  
Neutron Data ◽  
Monte Carlo Calculations ◽  
Data Libraries ◽  
Experimental Data Analysis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Nuclear Data Libraries

Delayed neutron parameters of fast VENUS-F reactor core configurations are determined with Monte Carlo calculations using various nuclear data libraries. Differences in the calculated effective delayed neutron fraction and the impact of the delayed neutron data (6- or 8-group precursors) that are applied in the experimental data analysis on the measured reactivity effects are studied. Considerable differences are found due to application of 235U and 238U delayed neutron data from JEFF, JENDL and ENDF evaluations.

scholarly journals Nuclear data sensitivity and uncertainty analyses on the first core criticality of the RSG GAS multipurpose research reactor

2020 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 22011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Hong Liem ◽  
Zuhair ◽  
Donny Hartanto
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Control Rod ◽  
Nuclear Data Library ◽  
Uncertainty Analyses ◽  
Effective Neutron ◽  
Data Libraries ◽  
And Control ◽  
Analytical Tools ◽  
Nuclear Data Libraries

The results of criticality, sensitivity and uncertainty (S\U) analyses on the first core criticality of the Indonesian 30 MWth Multipurpose Reactor RSG GAS (MPR-30) using the recent nuclear data libraries (ENDF/B-VII.1 and JENDL-4.0) and analytical tools available at present (WHISPER-1.1) are presented. Two groups of criticality benchmark cases were carefully selected from the experiments conducted during the first criticality approach and control rod calibrations. The C/E values of effective neutron multiplication factor (k) for the worst case was found around 1.005. Large negative sensitivities were found in (n,e-mail:γ) reaction of H-1, U-235, Al-27, U-238 and Be-9 while large positive sensitivities were found in U-235 (total nu and fission), H-1 (elastic), Be-9 (free gas, elastic) and H-1 S(α,β) (lwtr.20t, inelastic). The S\U analysis results concluded that the uncertainties of k originated from the nuclear data were found around 0.6% which covered well the [C/E-1] values. Differences in the sensitivities amongst the two nuclear data libraries were also identified, and recommendation for improving the nuclear data library was given.

scholarly journals IMPACT OF NUCLEAR DATA LIBRARIES ON PREDICTED FAST REACTOR PERFORMANCE

2021 ◽  
Vol 247 ◽  
pp. 09026
Author(s):  
A.G. Nelson ◽  
K.M. Ramey ◽  
F. Heidet
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Fast Reactor ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Reactor Performance ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Experimental Database ◽  
Data Libraries ◽  
Nuclear Data Libraries

The nuclear data evaluation process inherently yields a nuclear data set designed to produce accurate results for the neutron energy spectra corresponding to a specific benchmark suite of experiments. When studying reactors with spectral conditions outside of, or not well represented by, the experimental database used to evaluate the nuclear data, care should be given to the relevance of the nuclear data used. In such cases, larger biases or uncertainties may be present than in a reactor with well-represented spectra. The motivation of this work is to understand the magnitude of differences between recent nuclear data libraries to provide estimates for expected variability in criticality and power distribution results for sodiumcooled, steel-reflected, metal-fueled fast reactor designs. This work was specifically performed by creating a 3D OpenMC model of a sodium-cooled, steel-reflected, metal-fueled fast reactor similar to the FASTER design but without a thermal test region. This OpenMC model was used to compare the differences in eigenvalues, reactivity coefficients, and the spatial and energetic effects on flux and power distributions between the ENDF/B-VII.0, ENDF/B-VII.1, ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.2, and JEFF-3.3 nuclear data libraries. These investigations have revealed that reactivity differences between the above libraries can vary by nearly 900 pcm and the fine-group fluxes can vary by up to 18% in individual groups. Results also show a strong variation in the flux and power distributions near the fuel/reflector interface due to the high variability in the 56Fe cross sections in the libraries examined. This indicates that core design efforts of a sodium-cooled, steel-reflected, metalfueled reactor will require the application of relatively large nuclear data uncertainties and/or the development of a representative benchmark-quality experiment.

NEUTRONIC PERFORMANCE OF (U, Pu)C FUEL IN A LATTICE OF GFR USING SCALE 6.0

2016 ◽  
Vol 1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. P. Macedo ◽  
Carlos E. Velasquez ◽  
C. A. M. da Silva ◽  
C. Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Computer Analysis ◽  
Fast Reactor ◽  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Multiplication Factor ◽  
Assembly Model ◽  
Fast Reactors ◽  
Full Power ◽  
Data Libraries ◽  
Nuclear Data Libraries ◽  
Neutronic Performance

ABSTRACTThis paper studies the performance of (U, Pu)C fuel in a hexagonal assembly of a GFR (Gas Fast Reactor). The SCALE 6.0 (Standardized Computer Analysis for Licensing Evaluation version 6.0) code was used in the calculation. The goal is to evaluate the behavior of the infinite multiplication factor (kinf) for a heterogeneous assembly model using four nuclear data libraries: V6-238, V7-238, ENDF/B-VI.8 and ENDF/B-VII.0. The burnup of (U, Pu)C was performed by the TRITON-6 module, and the isotopic concentrations were evaluated during the cycle. The present work comprises calculations at Zero Power and Full Power condition. This study intends to achieve more information about different Fast Reactors.

scholarly journals Impact of Different Nuclear Data Library on Control Rod Reactivity Worth Calculation of Small Pebble Bed Reactor

2021 ◽  
Vol 2048 (1) ◽  
pp. 012029
Author(s):  
Suwoto ◽  
H Adrial ◽  
T Setiadipura ◽  
Zuhair ◽  
S Bakhri
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Data ◽  
Pebble Bed ◽  
Integral Control ◽  
Pebble Bed Reactor ◽  
Control Rod ◽  
Nuclear Data Library ◽  
Data Libraries ◽  
And Control ◽  
Nuclear Data Libraries ◽  
Data Library

Abstract One of the main critical issues on a nuclear reactor is safety and control system. The control rod worth plays an important role in the safety and control of nuclear reactors. The control rods worth calculation is used to specify the safety margin of the reactor. The main objective of this work is to investigate impact of different nuclear data libraries on calculating the control rod reactivity worth on small pebble bed reactor. Calculation of the control rod reactivity worth in small high temperature gas cooled reactor has been conducted using the Monte Carlo N-Particle 6 (MCNP6) code coupled with a different nuclear data library. Famous evaluated nuclear data libraries such as JENDL-40u, ENDF/B-VII.1 and JEFF-3.2 continuous cross section-energy data libraries were used. The overall calculation results of integral control rod worth show that the ENDF/B-VII.1, JENDL-40u and JEFF-3.2 files give values of - 17.814%☐k/k, -18.0204 %☐k/k and -18.0267%☐k/k, respectively. Calculations using ENDF/B-VII.1 give a slightly lower value than the others, while the JENDL-4.0u file gives results that are close to JEFF-3.2 file. The different nuclear data libraries have a relatively small impact on the control rod worth of small pebble bed reactor. Accurate prediction by simulation of control rod worth is very important for the safety operation of all reactor types, especially for new reactor designs.

Calculation studies of coated particles performance in sodium-cooled fast reactor

Kerntechnik ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-49
Author(s):  
N. V. Maslov ◽  
E. I. Grishanin ◽  
P. N. Alekseev
Keyword(s):  
Fast Reactor ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Heat Removal ◽  
Design Solution ◽  
Fast Neutrons ◽  
Steel Shell ◽  
Primary Circuit ◽  
Coated Particles ◽  
The Core ◽  
Fuel Assemblies

Abstract This paper presents results of calculation studies of the viability of coated particles in the conditions of the reactor core on fast neutrons with sodium cooling, justifying the development of the concept of the reactor BN with microspherical fuel. Traditional rod fuel assemblies with pellet MOX fuel in the core of a fast sodium reactor are directly replaced by fuel assemblies with micro-spherical mixed (U,Pu)C-fuel. Due to the fact that the micro-spherical (U, Pu)C fuel has a developed heat removal surface and that the design solution for the fuel assembly with coated particles is horizontal cooling of the microspherical fuel, the core has additional possibilities of increasing inherent (passive) safety and improve the competitiveness of BN type of reactors. It is obvious from obtained results that the microspherical (U, Pu)C fuel is limited with the maximal burn-up depth of ∼11% of heavy atoms in conditions of the sodium-cooled fast reactor core at the conservative approach; it gives the possibility of reaching stated thermal-hydraulic and neutron-physical characteristics. Such a tolerant fuel makes it less likely that fission products will enter the primary circuit in case of accidents with loss of coolant and the introduction of positive reactivity, since the coating of microspherical fuel withstands higher temperatures than the steel shell of traditional rod-type fuel elements.

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