Neutron Noise Calculations Using the Analytical Nodal Method

Paper in proceeding, 2010

In this study, the neutron noise, i.e. the stationary fluctuations of the neutron flux around its mean value, is calculated in 2-group diffusion theory using the Analytical Nodal Method. A brief description of the calculation of the static flux is also included. The static solution is benchmarked against a reference solution in the case of a homogeneous core. The same calculational scheme for the neutron noise as for the static flux is used. As a dynamical benchmark, the calculated neutron noise for a 2D fully homogeneous reactor is compared with the analytical solution, which can easily be determined for homogeneous reactors, at different frequencies. The result of the benchmarks is that the numerical calculations using ANM accurately match the analytical solutions.