Enhanced geometric capabilities for the transient analysis code T-ReX and its application to simulating TREAT experiments

Journal Article · 20 February 2018 · Progress in Nuclear Energy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.01.013 · OSTI ID:1478408

Mausolff, Zander  ^[1]; DeHart, Mark  ^[2]; Goluoglu, Sedat ^[1]

---

1. Nuclear Engineering Program, Gainesville, FL (United States)
2. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Here, advances in computational architecture have prompted a resurgence in the simulation of reactor transients from first principles. Most codes are unable to simulate transient events with complex models, and require numerous approximations. The code T-ReX (Transient-Reactor eXperiment simulator), an extensive update to TDKENO, has been developed as a transient analysis tool with few geometric limitations and minimal theoretical approximations. T-ReX achieves this by employing the Improved Quasi-Static (IQS) method to solve the time dependent Boltzmann transport equation with explicit representation of delayed neutrons. The primary change in T-ReX relative to TDKENO is the incorporation of a modified version of the Monte Carlo code KENO-VI to calculate the flux shape and model the geometry of a problem. Using KENO-VI to model systems allows exact representation of the geometry. The changes to T-ReX are verified by comparison of solutions to computational benchmark problems found with a previous version of TDKENO that made use of KENO V.a, and several other codes with time-dependent capabilities. In addition, a three-dimensional model of the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) core at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is constructed with KENO-VI, and used to validate T ReX. T-ReX produces results that agree with benchmark problems, and are in better agreement with TREAT experimental data than TDKENO.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517; 156392
• OSTI ID: 1478408
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1548683
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-17-41078-Rev000
• Journal Information: Progress in Nuclear Energy, Vol. 105, Issue C; ISSN 0149-1970
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English