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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Equivalent Fundamental-Mode Source Simulations for Spherical Uranium and Plutonium Systems [Abstract]

The equivalent fundamental-mode source refers to a “source” which is identically distributed in space, energy, and angle as that of a fundamental-mode fission source distribution. It has previously been shown that the system fixed source multiplication ($M_{fs}$) relates to the effective multiplication factor ($\kappa_{eff}$) as $M_{fs} = \frac{g^*}{1-k_{eff}}$ The term $\mathcal{g}$* therefore relates the system source distribution to the system equivalent fundamental-mode source. As previously shown, the $\mathcal{g}$* term is approximately 1 for deeply subcritical systems and then diverges as the system multiplication increases. For a system with a point source located in the center of an assembly (such a sphere), $\mathcal{g}$* will be greater than 1; this happens because there is a higher probability of induced fission when all of the starter neutrons originate from the center of the sphere. For a uniform source, $\mathcal{g}$* is less than 1, but does not diverge from 1 as dramatically as seen by a point source. One reason that $\mathcal{g}$* is an important parameter is that it is used in measurement methods to infer reactor kinetics parameters ($β_{eff}$ being one example). This work will discuss multiple ways to simulate $\mathcal{g}$* using MCNP®6.2, which include use of traditional methods versus a single input file method that was recently published. A discussion related to methods to simulate $M_{fs}$ will be presented. Spherical systems of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) will be compared with previous works. In addition, results of plutonium including multiple reflector materials will be investigated. Simulated systems will include both parametric studies as well as configurations used in recent experiments performed at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC). These studies will include subtleties associated with system geometry that have not been previously shown. Last, this work will investigate the relationship between $\mathcal{g}$* and reactor kinetics parameters (such as $β_{eff}$).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Preliminary Chlorine Worth Study Benchmark Evaluation

The Chlorine Worth Studies (CWS) experiments with polyvinyl chloride (PVC with chemical formula (C 2 H 3 Cl) n ), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC with chemical formula (C 9 H 11 Cl 7 ) n ), and high density polyethylene (HDPE with chemical formula (CH 2 ) n ) were a series of measurements performed at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC). The purpose of the CWS experiments was to perform integral experiments that were highly sensitive to the thermal 35 Cl(n,γ) reaction and matched the sensitivities of aqueous chloride operations at the plutonium facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The CWS experiments were performed on the Planet critical assembly machine at NCERC and utilized weapons grade plutonium (WGPu) plates as fuel. The design process and design of the CWS experiment were discussed previously. This paper discusses the benchmark evaluation of the experiment, intended for the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP). Criticality calculations were performed with MCNP version 6.3. Results presented here are preliminary, as the benchmark has not yet been submitted to the ICSBEP.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Verification and Performance Impact of the New Parallel MCNP6.3 Particle Track Output Capability for Subcritical Multiplication Simulations

The MCNP6® code, version 6.3, has several new features that are intended to ultimately replace legacy features that are now marked for deprecation. One of these features is the new particle track output (PTRAC) format and capability, where the legacy PTRAC capability still exists alongside the modern PTRAC capability in MCNP6.3. While the MCNP6.3 code has been extensively verified and validated for many applications, the PTRAC feature is not exercised in any of the typical verification and validation (V&V) applications studied during the course of a typical MCNP code release. The primary goal of this paper is to verify that the legacy and modern PTRAC feature produces equivalent results for subcritical multiplication benchmarks previously studied. In the process of verifying that the simulated benchmark results are equivalent, the computational performance is compared between the legacy and modern PTRAC uses. In addition to verification of the update, which is important to the community as a whole, this effort also supports advances in the simulation of recent subcritical neutron noise measurements that require higher computational effort per second of real-time measurement than that of systems typically measured.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Simulation of gallium nitride vertical fin-shaped field effect transistor for use as thermal neutron detector

Through the use of a radiation detection system simulation framework, a gallium nitride vertical fin-shaped field effect transistor (FinFET) was studied for output response when utilized as a thermal neutron detector. The FinFET was assumed to had been backfilled with boron carbide, reactive to thermal neutrons. The GaN FinFET was modeled with radiation transport from MCNP, and the electronic transport from COMSOL Multiphysics. Fabricated FinFET devices (not neutron reactive) were tested to aid in the tuning of the COMSOL FinFET model. Through time-depenent studies, the drain current response pulse to simulated ionization due to single events lead to building of a database of device responses to radiation. By integrating the current pulses over time, the induced charge was calculated. Using the results of the radiation transport PTRAC file in combination with the induced charge database, an integrated charge spectrum was calculated.

Davidson, Bryce L.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Quasi-heterogeneous efficient 3-D discrete ordinates CANDU calculations using Attila

In this paper, 3-D quasi-heterogeneous large scale parallel Attila calculations of a generic CANDU test problem consisting of 42 complete fuel channels and a perpendicular to fuel reactivity device are presented. The solution method is that of discrete ordinates SN and the computational model is quasi-heterogeneous, i.e. fuel bundle is partially homogenized into five homogeneous rings consistently with the DRAGON code model used by the industry for the incremental cross-section generation. In calculations, the HELIOS-generated 45 macroscopic cross-sections library was used. This approach to CANDU calculations has the following advantages: 1) it allows detailed bundle (and eventually channel) power calculations for each fuel ring in a bundle, 2) it allows the exact reactivity device representation for its precise reactivity worth calculation, and 3) it eliminates the need for incremental cross-sections. Our results are compared to the reference Monte Carlo MCNP solution. In addition, the Attila SN method performance in CANDU calculations characterized by significant up scattering is discussed. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Root-cause analysis of the better performance of the coarse-mesh finite-difference method for CANDU-type reactors

Recent assessment results indicate that the coarse-mesh finite-difference method (FDM) gives consistently smaller percent differences in channel powers than the fine-mesh FDM when compared to the reference MCNP solution for CANDU-type reactors. However, there is an impression that the fine-mesh FDM should always give more accurate results than the coarse-mesh FDM in theory. To answer the question if the better performance of the coarse-mesh FDM for CANDU-type reactors was just a coincidence (cancellation of errors) or caused by the use of heavy water or the use of lattice-homogenized cross sections for the cluster fuel geometry in the diffusion calculation, three benchmark problems were set up with three different fuel lattices: CANDU, HWR and PWR. These benchmark problems were then used to analyze the root cause of the better performance of the coarse-mesh FDM for CANDU-type reactors. The analyses confirm that the better performance of the coarse-mesh FDM for CANDU-type reactors is mainly caused by the use of lattice-homogenized cross sections for the sub-meshes of the cluster fuel geometry in the diffusion calculation. Based on the analyses, it is recommended to use 2 x 2 coarse-mesh FDM to analyze CANDU-type reactors when lattice-homogenized cross sections are used in the core analysis. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Optimization of Monte Carlo transport simulations in stochastic media

This paper presents an accurate and efficient approach to optimize radiation transport simulations in a stochastic medium of high heterogeneity, like the Very High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (VHTR) configurations packed with TRISO fuel particles. Based on a fast nearest neighbor search algorithm, a modified fast Random Sequential Addition (RSA) method is first developed to speed up the generation of the stochastic media systems packed with both mono-sized and poly-sized spheres. A fast neutron tracking method is then developed to optimize the next sphere boundary search in the radiation transport procedure. In order to investigate their accuracy and efficiency, the developed sphere packing and neutron tracking methods are implemented into an in-house continuous energy Monte Carlo code to solve an eigenvalue problem in VHTR unit cells. Comparison with the MCNP benchmark calculations for the same problem indicates that the new methods show considerably higher computational efficiency. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Preliminary TRIGA fuel burn-up evaluation by means of Monte Carlo code and computation based on total energy released during reactor operation

Aim of this work was to perform a rough preliminary evaluation of the burn-up of the fuel of TRIGA Mark II research reactor of the Applied Nuclear Energy Laboratory (LENA) of the Univ. of Pavia. In order to achieve this goal a computation of the neutron flux density in each fuel element was performed by means of Monte Carlo code MCNP (Version 4C). The results of the simulations were used to calculate the effective cross sections (fission and capture) inside fuel and, at the end, to evaluate the burn-up and the uranium consumption in each fuel element. The evaluation, showed a fair agreement with the computation for fuel burn-up based on the total energy released during reactor operation. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Optimization of a coupling scheme between MCNP5 and SUBCHANFLOW for high fidelity modeling of LWR reactors

In order to increase the accuracy and the degree of spatial resolution of core design studies, coupled Three-Dimensional (3D) neutronics (deterministic and Monte Carlo) and 3D thermal hydraulics (CFD and sub-channel) codes are being developed worldwide. In this paper the optimization of a coupling between MCNP5 code and an in-house development thermal-hydraulics code SUBCHANFLOW is presented. Various improvements of the coupling methodology are presented. With the help of novel interpolation tool a consistent methodology for the preparation of thermal scattering data library have been developed, ensuring that inelastic scattering from bound nuclei is treated at the correct moderator temperature. Trough the utilization of a hybrid coupling with discrete energy Monte-Carlo code KENO a methodology for acceleration of the coupled calculation is being demonstrated. In this approach an additional coupling between KENO and SUBCHANFLOW was developed, the converged results of which are used as initial conditions for the MCNP-SUBCHANFLOW coupling. Acceleration of fission source distribution convergence, by sampling fission source distribution from the power distribution obtained by KENO is also demonstrated. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2012

BWR fuel design options for self-sustainable Th-{sup 233}U fuel cycle

In this work, we investigate a number of fuel assembly design options for a BWR core operating in a closed self-sustainable Th-{sup 233}U fuel cycle. The designs rely on axially heterogeneous fuel assembly structure in order to improve fertile to fissile conversion ratio. One of the main assumptions of the current study was to restrict the fuel assembly geometry to a single axial fissile zone 'sandwiched' between two fertile blanket zones. The main objective was to study the effect of the most important design parameters, such as dimensions of fissile and fertile zones and average void fraction, on the net breeding of {sup 233}U. The main design challenge in this respect is that the fuel breeding potential is at odds with axial power peaking and therefore limits the maximum achievable core power rating. The calculations were performed with BGCore system, which consists of MCNP code coupled with fuel depletion and thermo-hydraulic feedback modules. A single 3-dimensional fuel assembly with reflective radial boundaries was modeled applying simplified restrictions on maximum central line fuel temperature and Critical Power Ratio. It was found that axially heterogeneous fuel assembly design with single fissile zone can potentially achieve net breeding. In this case however, the achievable core power density is roughly one third of the reference BWR core. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Advances in reactor physics education: Visualization of reactor parameters

Modern computer codes allow detailed neutron transport calculations. In combination with advanced 3D visualization software capable of treating large amounts of data in real time they form a powerful tool that can be used as a convenient modern educational tool for reactor operators, nuclear engineers, students and specialists involved in reactor operation and design. Visualization is applicable not only in education and training, but also as a tool for fuel management, core analysis and irradiation planning. The paper treats the visualization of neutron transport in different moderators, neutron flux and power distributions in two nuclear reactors (TRIGA type research reactor and a typical PWR). The distributions are calculated with MCNP and CORD-2 computer codes and presented using Amira software. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

ALEPH2 - A general purpose Monte Carlo depletion code

The Monte-Carlo burn-up code ALEPH is being developed at SCK-CEN since 2004. A previous version of the code implemented the coupling between the Monte Carlo transport (any version of MCNP or MCNPX) and the ' deterministic' depletion code ORIGEN-2.2 but had important deficiencies in nuclear data treatment and limitations inherent to ORIGEN-2.2. A new version of the code, ALEPH2, has several unique features making it outstanding among other depletion codes. The most important feature is full data consistency between steady-state Monte Carlo and time-dependent depletion calculations. The last generation general-purpose nuclear data libraries (JEFF-3.1.1, ENDF/B-VII and JENDL-4) are fully implemented, including special purpose activation, spontaneous fission, fission product yield and radioactive decay data. The built-in depletion algorithm allows to eliminate the uncertainties associated with obtaining the time-dependent nuclide concentrations. A predictor-corrector mechanism, calculation of nuclear heating, calculation of decay heat, decay neutron sources are available as well. The validation of the code on the results of REBUS experimental program has been performed. The ALEPH2 has shown better agreement with measured data than other depletion codes. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

3D neutronic/thermal-hydraulic coupled analysis of MYRRHA

The current tendency in multiphysics calculations applied to reactor physics is the use of already validated computer codes, coupled by means of an iterative approach. In this paper such an approach is explained concerning neutronics and thermal-hydraulics coupled analysis with MCNPX and COBRA-IV codes using a driver program and file exchange between codes. MCNPX provides the neutronic analysis of heterogeneous nuclear systems, both in critical and subcritical states, while COBRA-IV is a subchannel code that can be used for rod bundles or core thermal-hydraulics analysis. In our model, the MCNP temperature dependence of nuclear data is handled via pseudo-material approach, mixing pre-generated cross section data set to obtain the material with the desired cross section temperature. On the other hand, COBRA-IV has been updated to allow for the simulation of liquid metal cooled reactors. The coupled computational tool can be applied to any geometry and coolant, as it is the case of single fuel assembly, at pin-by-pin level, or full core simulation with the average pin of each fuel-assembly. The coupling tool has been applied to the critical core layout of the SCK-CEN MYRRHA concept, an experimental LBE cooled fast reactor presently in engineering design stage. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Eigenvalue sensitivity studies for the Fort St. Vrain high temperature gas-cooled reactor to account for fabrication and modeling uncertainties

Uncertainties in the composition and fabrication of fuel compacts for the Fort St. Vrain (FSV) high temperature gas reactor have been studied by performing eigenvalue sensitivity studies that represent the key uncertainties for the FSV neutronic analysis. The uncertainties for the TRISO fuel kernels were addressed by developing a suite of models for an 'average' FSV fuel compact that models the fuel as (1) a mixture of two different TRISO fuel particles representing fissile and fertile kernels, (2) a mixture of four different TRISO fuel particles representing small and large fissile kernels and small and large fertile kernels and (3) a stochastic mixture of the four types of fuel particles where every kernel has its diameter sampled from a continuous probability density function. All of the discrete diameter and continuous diameter fuel models were constrained to have the same fuel loadings and packing fractions. For the non-stochastic discrete diameter cases, the MCNP compact model arranged the TRISO fuel particles on a hexagonal honeycomb lattice. This lattice-based fuel compact was compared to a stochastic compact where the locations (and kernel diameters for the continuous diameter cases) of the fuel particles were randomly sampled. Partial core configurations were modeled by stacking compacts into fuel columns containing graphite. The differences in eigenvalues between the lattice-based and stochastic models were small but the runtime of the lattice-based fuel model was roughly 20 times shorter than with the stochastic-based fuel model. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Modeling filters for formation of mono-energetic neutron beams in the research reactor IRT MEPhI and optimization of radiation shielding for liquid-xenon detector

The paper considers formation of mono-energetic neutron beams at the entrance of experimental channels in research reactors for various applications. The problem includes the following steps: 1. Full-scale mathematical model of the research IRT MEPhI was developed for numerical evaluations of neutron spectra and neutron spatial distribution in the area of experimental channels. 2. Modeling of filters in the channel to shift neutron spectrum towards the required mono-energetic line was performed. 3. Some characteristics of neutron beams at the entrance of detector were evaluated. The filter materials were selected. The calculations were carried out with application of the computer code based on the high-precision Monte-Carlo code MCNP. As a result, mathematical model was created for the filter which is able to form mono-energetic (24 keV) neutron beam. The study was carried out within the frames of the research project on development of Russian emission detector with liquid noble gas to observe rare processes of neutrino scattering and particles of hypothetical dark matter in atomic nuclei. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Research on Fast-Doppler-Broadening of neutron cross sections

A Fast-Doppler-Broadening method is developed in this work to broaden Continuous Energy neutron cross-sections for Monte Carlo calculations. Gauss integration algorithm and parallel computing are implemented in this method, which is unprecedented in the history of cross section processing. Compared to the traditional code (NJOY, SIGMA1, etc.), the new Fast-Doppler-Broadening method shows a remarkable speedup with keeping accuracy. The purpose of using Gauss integration is to avoid complex derivation of traditional broadening formula and heavy load of computing complementary error function that slows down the Doppler broadening process. The OpenMP environment is utilized in parallel computing which can take full advantage of modern multi-processor computers. Combination of the two can reduce processing time of main actinides (such as {sup 238}U, {sup 235}U) to an order of magnitude of 1{approx}2 seconds. This new method is fast enough to be applied to Online Doppler broadening. It can be combined or coupled with Monte Carlo transport code to solve temperature dependent problems and neutronics-thermal hydraulics coupled scheme which is a big challenge for the conventional NJOY-MCNP system. Examples are shown to determine the efficiency and relative errors compared with the NJOY results. A Godiva Benchmark is also used in order to test the ACE libraries produced by the new method. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Benchmarking ENDF/B-VII.1, JENDL-4.0 and JEFF-3.1

Three nuclear data libraries have been tested extensively using criticality safety benchmark calculations. The three libraries are the new release of the US library ENDF/B-VII.1 (2011), the new release of the Japanese library JENDL-4.0 (2011), and the OECD/NEA library JEFF-3.1 (2006). All calculations were performed with the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MCNP (version 4C3, as well as version 6-beta1). Around 2000 benchmark cases from the International Handbook of Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments (ICSBEP) were used. The results were analyzed per ICSBEP category, and per element. Overall, the three libraries show similar performance on most criticality safety benchmarks. The largest differences are probably caused by elements such as Be, C, Fe, Zr, W. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Assessment of the mechanical performance of the Westinghouse BWR control rod CR 99 at high depletion levels

A long-term program assessing the mechanical performance of the Westinghouse BWR control rod CR 99 at high depletion levels has been performed. The scope of the program has mainly been based on the operation of four CR 99 Generation 2 control rods in demanding positions during 6 and 7 cycles in the Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant (KKL) and on the detailed visual inspections and blade wing thickness measurements that were performed after the rods were discharged. By correlating statistically the blade wing thickness measurements to the appearance of irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC), the probability of IASCC appearance as function of the blade wing swelling was estimated. In order to correlate the IASCC probability of a CR 99 to its depletion, the {sup 10}B depletion of the studied rods was calculated in detail on a local level with the stochastic Monte Carlo code MCNP in combination with the Westinghouse nodal code system PHOENIX4/POLCA7. Using this information coupled to the blade wing measurement data, a finite element model describing the blade wing swelling of an arbitrary CR 99 design as function of {sup 10}B depletion could then be generated. In the final step, these relationships were used to quantify the probability of IASCC appearance as function of the {sup 10}B depletion of the CR 99 Generations 2 and 3. Applying this detailed mapping of the CR 99 behavior at high depletion levels and using an on-line core monitoring system with explicit {sup 10}B depletion tracking capabilities will enable a reliable prediction of the probability for IASCC appearance, thus enhancing the optimized design and the sound operation of the CR 99 control rod. Another important outcome of the program was that it was clearly shown that no significant amount of boron leakage did occur through any of the detected IASCC cracks, despite the very high depletion levels achieved. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗