Analysis of the neutron noise induced by fuel assembly vibrations
Journal article, 2021

The investigation of neutron noise is key to several applications in nuclear reactor physics, such as the detection of control rod or assembly vibrations and the diagnostic of coolant speed and void fraction. In this paper we will elucidate some aspects of the noise equations in the Fourier domain, for the case of periodic fuel rod vibrations with frequency ω0 in a small symmetrical system in which the perturbation is centrally located. We will in particular focus on the double frequency effect, i.e., the emergence of a noise component at 2ω0 (possibly stronger than the one at the fundamental frequency ω0). Our analysis will be carried out without truncating the noise source at the first order and in the context of a non-perturbative approach (i.e., without resorting to linearization). For this purpose, we will select a simple benchmark configuration that is amenable to accurate reference solutions obtained by solving the exact time-dependent transport equations. The analysis carried out in this work suggests that the non-perturbative noise equations are mandatory in order to properly discriminate the possible emergence of double frequency effects in neutron noise, especially in view of comparing simulation results to experimental data.

Neutron noise

Frequency domain

Linearized equations

Harmonics

Non-perturbative approach

Author

Andrea Zoia

University Paris-Saclay

Amélie Rouchon

University Paris-Saclay

Baptiste Gasse

University Paris-Saclay

Christophe Demaziere

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Paolo Vinai

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Annals of Nuclear Energy

0306-4549 (ISSN) 1873-2100 (eISSN)

Vol. 154 108061

Core monitoring techniques and experimental validation and demonstration (CORTEX)

European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/754316), 2017-09-01 -- 2021-08-31.

Areas of Advance

Energy

Subject Categories

Other Physics Topics

DOI

10.1016/j.anucene.2020.108061

More information

Latest update

3/2/2022 1