Comparative study of neutron noise calculations using the neutron kinetics code PARCS and the neutron noise simulator CORE SIM
Paper in proceeding, 2018

Fluctuations are observed in the recording of any process parameter in a nuclear reactor even when operating at full power and steady-state conditions. These fluctuations (also called noise) are due to, for example, turbulence, coolant boiling, mechanical vibrations, etc. The monitoring of those parameters allows detecting, using existing instrumentation and without introducing any external perturbation to the system, possible anomalies before they have any inadvertent effect on plant safety and availability. In the proposed work, the time-domain PARCS code was used to model the effect of stationary perturbations in nuclear reactors. The results of such simulations were compared to the results of simulations performed in the frequency domain using the tool developed by Chalmers University of Technology called CORE SIM. The development of a few test cases based on a real reactor model were undertaken in order to compare the time-domain and the frequency-domain simulations. A methodology aimed at comparing these two different types of tools was established. It was demonstrated that PARCS, although not primarily developed for such calculations, can reproduce neutron noise patterns for reasonable frequencies. Nevertheless, it was also observed that unphysical results were occasionally obtained.

diffusion equation

noise analysis

frequency domain

time dependent

Author

Nicolas Olmo-Juan

Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV)

Christophe Demaziere

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic and Plasma Physics

Teresa Barrachina

Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV)

Rafael Miro

Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV)

Gumersindo Verdu

Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV)

International Conference on Physics of Reactors, PHYSOR 2018: Reactor Physics Paving the Way Towards More Efficient Systems

Vol. Part F168384-4 2468-2480
9781713808510 (ISBN)

2018 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Reactor Physics Paving the Way Towards More Efficient Systems, PHYSOR 2018
Cancun, Mexico,

Areas of Advance

Energy

Subject Categories

Other Physics Topics

More information

Latest update

4/21/2023