Simulation of the Fast Reactor Fuel Assembly Duct-Bowing Reactivity Effect Using Monte Carlo Neutron Transport and Finite Element Analysis
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Idaho State Univ., Pocatello, ID (United States)
This paper discusses a new method of simulating the fuel assembly duct-bowing reactivity coefficient for EBR-II run 138B. Quantification of the fuel assembly duct-bowing reactivity effect in liquid metal–cooled fast reactors has been a persistent problem since they were first designed and operated. Simulation of the duct-bowing reactivity effect is difficult because the level of detail required to simulate the effect has exceeded most modeling capabilities. The new method outlined in this paper utilizes the finite element analysis code ANSYS to analyze the thermal and structural components. Here, the displacement of the fuel assembly duct due to thermal expansion and mechanical interaction was calculated by ANSYS using recorded EBR-II run 138B temperature and power boundary value data. The displacement values were incorporated into to a Monte Carlo model of EBR-II run 138B and keff was calculated. Multiple Monte Carlo calculations were performed with duct displacement values corresponding to different reactor temperatures. Using the calculated keff values associated with the different duct displacement results allowed calculation of the duct-bowing reactivity coefficient. The duct-bowing reactivity coefficient was calculated to be –14.5 × 10–4 $/°C/ ± 4.4%.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Office of Defense Programs (DP) (NA-10)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001
- OSTI ID:
- 1735900
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--20-22482
- Journal Information:
- Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 207; ISSN 0029-5450
- Publisher:
- Taylor & Francis - formerly American Nuclear Society (ANS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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