Benchmark models and experimental data for a U(20) polyethylene-moderated critical system

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2015

OSTI ID:1215593

Wetzel, Larry ^[1]; Busch, Robert D. ^[2]; Bowen, Douglas G ^[3]

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1. Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group Inc.
2. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
3. ORNL

This work involves the analysis of recent experiments performed on the Aerojet General Nucleonics (AGN)-201M (AGN) polyethylene-moderated research reactor at the University of New Mexico (UNM). The experiments include 36 delayed critical (DC) configurations and 11 positive-period and rod-drop measurements (transient sequences). The Even Parity Neutron Transport (EVENT) radiation transport code was chosen to analyze these steady state and time-dependent experimental configurations. The UNM AGN specifications provided in a benchmark calculation report (2007) were used to initiate AGN EVENT model development and to test the EVENT AGN calculation methodology. The results of the EVENT DC experimental analyses compared well with the experimental data; the average AGN EVENT calculation bias in the k_eff is –0.0048% for the Legrendre Flux Expansion Order of 11 (P₁₁) cases and +0.0119% for the P₁₃ cases. The EVENT transient analysis also compared well with the AGN experimental data with respect to predicting the reactor period and control rod worth values. This paper discusses the benchmark models used, the recent experimental configurations, and the EVENT experimental analysis.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1215593
• Resource Relation: Conference: International Conference on Nuclear Criticality 2015, Charlotte, NC, USA, 20150913, 20150913
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS