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Model biases in high-burnup fast reactor simulations

Abstract

A new code system called the Advanced Reactor Modeling Interface (ARMI) has been developed that loosely couples multiscale, multiphysics nuclear reactor simulations to provide rapid, user-friendly, high-fidelity full systems analysis. Incorporating neutronic, thermal-hydraulic, safety/transient, fuel performance, core mechanical, and economic analyses, ARMI provides 'one-click' assessments of many multi-disciplined performance metrics and constraints that historically require iterations between many diverse experts. The capabilities of ARMI are implemented in this study to quantify neutronic biases of various modeling approximations typically made in fast reactor analysis at an equilibrium condition, after many repetitive shuffles. Sensitivities at equilibrium that result in very high discharge burnup are considered ( and >20% FIMA), as motivated by the development of the Traveling Wave Reactor. Model approximations discussed include homogenization, neutronic and depletion mesh resolution, thermal-hydraulic coupling, explicit control rod insertion, burnup-dependent cross sections, fission product model, burn chain truncation, and dynamic fuel performance. The sensitivities of these approximations on equilibrium discharge burnup, k{sub eff}, power density, delayed neutron fraction, and coolant temperature coefficient are discussed. (authors)
Authors:
Touran, N.; Cheatham, J.; Petroski, R. [1] 
  1. TerraPower LLC, 11235 S.E. 6th St, Bellevue, WA 98004 (United States)
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 2012
Product Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: PHYSOR 2012: Conference on Advances in Reactor Physics - Linking Research, Industry, and Education, Knoxville, TN (United States), 15-20 Apr 2012; Other Information: Country of input: France; 9 refs.
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; APPROXIMATIONS; BURNUP; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; CONTROL ELEMENTS; CROSS SECTIONS; DELAYED NEUTRON FRACTION; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; EQUILIBRIUM; FAST REACTORS; FISSION PRODUCTS; POWER DENSITY; SENSITIVITY; SYSTEMS ANALYSIS; TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT; THERMAL HYDRAULICS
OSTI ID:
22105713
Research Organizations:
American Nuclear Society, Inc., 555 N. Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, Illinois 60526 (United States)
Country of Origin:
United States
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ISBN 978-0-89448-085-9; TRN: US13V0210063534
Submitting Site:
USN
Size:
15 page(s)
Announcement Date:
Jun 20, 2013

Citation Formats

Touran, N., Cheatham, J., and Petroski, R. Model biases in high-burnup fast reactor simulations. United States: N. p., 2012. Web.
Touran, N., Cheatham, J., & Petroski, R. Model biases in high-burnup fast reactor simulations. United States.
Touran, N., Cheatham, J., and Petroski, R. 2012. "Model biases in high-burnup fast reactor simulations." United States.
@misc{etde_22105713,
title = {Model biases in high-burnup fast reactor simulations}
author = {Touran, N., Cheatham, J., and Petroski, R.}
abstractNote = {A new code system called the Advanced Reactor Modeling Interface (ARMI) has been developed that loosely couples multiscale, multiphysics nuclear reactor simulations to provide rapid, user-friendly, high-fidelity full systems analysis. Incorporating neutronic, thermal-hydraulic, safety/transient, fuel performance, core mechanical, and economic analyses, ARMI provides 'one-click' assessments of many multi-disciplined performance metrics and constraints that historically require iterations between many diverse experts. The capabilities of ARMI are implemented in this study to quantify neutronic biases of various modeling approximations typically made in fast reactor analysis at an equilibrium condition, after many repetitive shuffles. Sensitivities at equilibrium that result in very high discharge burnup are considered ( and >20% FIMA), as motivated by the development of the Traveling Wave Reactor. Model approximations discussed include homogenization, neutronic and depletion mesh resolution, thermal-hydraulic coupling, explicit control rod insertion, burnup-dependent cross sections, fission product model, burn chain truncation, and dynamic fuel performance. The sensitivities of these approximations on equilibrium discharge burnup, k{sub eff}, power density, delayed neutron fraction, and coolant temperature coefficient are discussed. (authors)}
place = {United States}
year = {2012}
month = {Jul}
}