Hexagonal geometry fast reactor nodal modeling

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6309904

Caro, E

A nodal procedure has been developed for fast reactor application in hexagonal-Z geometry with an arbitrary number of energy groups. Results indicate that nodal analysis is capable of providing good results for fast reactors in realistic situations. A general response matrix procedure that permits use of alternate nodal models as special cases was used. The approach selected was the generalized coarse mesh method using different interpolation parameters in different zones based on preservation of reflection (reflection based coarse mesh method, RBCMT). A set of test problems was devised to include the types of zones of concern in fast reactors - fuel, blanket, control and control follower. Results of these test problems indicate that RBCMT gives consistently good results, even in low-power blanket regions. Results for spectrum, in addition to more aggregate parameters like power, have been good. Power distribution solutions and absorptions rates, obtained with the nodal analysis developed in this work demonstrate that nodal analysis can yield results comparable to those provided by fine-mesh diffusion theory at a small fraction of the cost.

• Research Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6309904
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220100* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Theory & Calculation
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EQUATIONS
FAST REACTORS
FUEL ELEMENTS
KINETICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MESH GENERATION
NEUTRON DIFFUSION EQUATION
POWER DENSITY
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR KINETICS
REACTORS