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CASMO-3/Simulate-3 benchmarking against McGuire Unit 2

Conference · · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6870566

An advanced nodal analysis code package, CASMO-3/Simulate-3, has been at use at Yankee Atomic for approx. 1 yr. This package has been benchmarked against measured data from an operating pressurized water reactor, McGuire unit 2. McGuire is a 3411-MW(thermal) Westinghouse designed reactor containing 193 assemblies of a 17 x 17 fuel rod array. It is currently in cycle 3 of operation. The benchmarking compared assembly power distribution, soluble boron letdown, control rod worths, and temperature coefficients generated using CASMO-3/Simulate-3 to plant measured data. The comparison covered approximately three cycles of operation. The Advanced code package, CASMO-3/Simulate-3, has demonstrated exceptionally accurate results relative to measured data. These results are more accurate than those achieved with conventional nodal codes and comparable to those achieved with expensive fine-mesh diffusion theory models such as PDQ. The code package represents a consistent, straightforward approach from cross-section generation to the final results. The method is easy to use and alleviates many inconveniences, such as normalization, associated with conventional nodal codes. Its ease of use and cost-efficiency greatly enhance the quality of engineering time associated with in-core fuel management.

OSTI ID:
6870566
Report Number(s):
CONF-8711195-
Journal Information:
Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 55; ISSN TANSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English