A resolution of the stiffness problem of reactor kinetics

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.13182/NSE85-7· OSTI ID:5056944

Chao, Y -A; Attard, A

The stiffness problem in reactor kinetics is overcome by the stiffness confinement method for solving the kinetic equations. The idea is based on the observation that the stiffness characteristic is present only in the time response of the prompt neutron density, but not in that of the delayed neutron precursors. The method is, therefore, devised to have the stiffness decoupled from the dif ferential equations for precursors and confined to the one for the prompt neutrons, which can be analytically solved. Numerical examples of applying the method to a variety of problems confirm that the time step increment size can be greatly increased and that much computing time can be saved, a compared to other conventional methods. The theory is of general validity and involves no approximation other than the discretization of the time variable.

• Research Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• OSTI ID: 5056944
• Journal Information: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Sci. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 90:1; ISSN NSENA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220100* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Theory & Calculation
BARYONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DELAYED NEUTRON PRECURSORS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
FERMIONS
FISSION NEUTRONS
FUNCTIONS
HADRONS
ISOTOPES
KINETICS
NEUTRON DENSITY
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
POWER REACTORS
PROMPT NEUTRONS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR KINETICS
REACTOR KINETICS EQUATIONS
REACTORS
RESOLUTION
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SIMULATION
TIME RESOLUTION
TIMING PROPERTIES