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Title: Stability analysis of the high temperature thermal pebble bed nuclear reactor concept

Abstract

A study was made of the stability of the high temperature gas-cooled pebble bed core against xenon-driven oscillation. This generic study indicated that a core as large as 3000 MW(t) could be stable. Several aspects present a challenge to analysis including the void space above the pebble bed, the effects of possible control rod configurations, and the temperature feedback contribution. Special methods of analysis were developed in this effort. Of considerable utility was the scheme of including an azimuthal buckling loss term in the neturon balance equations admitting direct solution of the first azimuthal harmonic for a core having azimuthal symmetry. This technique allows the linear stability analysis to be done solving two-dimensional (RZ) problems instead of three-dimensional problems. A scheme for removing the fundamental source contribution was also implemented to allow direct iteration toward the dominant harmonic solution, treating up to three dimensions with diffusion theory.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
6657072
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-7542
TRN: 81-003826
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-26
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; PEBBLE BED REACTORS; STABILITY; CALCULATION METHODS; XENON OSCILLATIONS; HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS; POISONING; REACTORS; SOLID HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS; 210300* - Power Reactors, Nonbreeding, Graphite Moderated

Citation Formats

Vondy, D. R. Stability analysis of the high temperature thermal pebble bed nuclear reactor concept. United States: N. p., 1981. Web. doi:10.2172/6657072.
Vondy, D. R. Stability analysis of the high temperature thermal pebble bed nuclear reactor concept. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6657072
Vondy, D. R. 1981. "Stability analysis of the high temperature thermal pebble bed nuclear reactor concept". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6657072. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6657072.
@article{osti_6657072,
title = {Stability analysis of the high temperature thermal pebble bed nuclear reactor concept},
author = {Vondy, D. R.},
abstractNote = {A study was made of the stability of the high temperature gas-cooled pebble bed core against xenon-driven oscillation. This generic study indicated that a core as large as 3000 MW(t) could be stable. Several aspects present a challenge to analysis including the void space above the pebble bed, the effects of possible control rod configurations, and the temperature feedback contribution. Special methods of analysis were developed in this effort. Of considerable utility was the scheme of including an azimuthal buckling loss term in the neturon balance equations admitting direct solution of the first azimuthal harmonic for a core having azimuthal symmetry. This technique allows the linear stability analysis to be done solving two-dimensional (RZ) problems instead of three-dimensional problems. A scheme for removing the fundamental source contribution was also implemented to allow direct iteration toward the dominant harmonic solution, treating up to three dimensions with diffusion theory.},
doi = {10.2172/6657072},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6657072}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}