VARIATIONAL METHOD IN THE CALCULATION OF REACTOR NEUTRON FLUX DENSITY

Technical Report · Tue Feb 21 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4841039

Judge, F D

The variational method, when applied to the one-dimensional, one- velocity Boltzmann equation, leads to simple relations for the spatial average of the scalar flux density or the spatial average of the vector flux density in each region of an arbitrary slab array. It is shown that these relations are correct to the first order. The resultant matrix equations were coded for a high-speed digital computer. Solutions of these equations for specific cases were compared with solutions obtained with high-order P/sub l/ numerical calculations. The variational solution of the Boltzmann equation was then used to check various approximations made in reactor calculations. The substitution of an equivalent isotropic scattering medium for an anisotropic scattering medium was studied. Finally, the error involved by the replacement of an anisotropic source by an isotropic source was investigated. (auth)

• Research Organization: Knolls Atomic Power Lab., Schenectady, N.Y.
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-52
• NSA Number: NSA-15-030209
• OSTI ID: 4841039
• Report Number(s): KAPL-2151
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BOLTZMANN EQUATION
COMPUTERS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ERRORS
MATHEMATICS
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON SOURCES
NUMERICALS
PROGRAMMING
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
SCATTERING
VARIATIONS