A multi-group neutron noise simulator for fast reactors
Journal article, 2013

A neutron noise simulator has been developed for fast reactors based on diffusion theory with multi-energy groups and several groups of delayed neutron precursors. The tool is expected to be applicable for core monitoring of fast reactors and also for other reactor types with hexagonal fuel assemblies. The noise sources are modeled through small stationary fluctuations of macroscopic cross sections, and the induced first order noise is solved fully in the frequency domain. Numerical algorithms are implemented for solving both the static and noise equations using finite differences for spatial discretization, where a hexagonal assembly is radially divided into finer triangular meshes. A coarse mesh finite difference (CMFD) acceleration has been used for accelerating the convergence of both the static and noise calculations. Numerical calculations have been performed for the ESFR core with 33 energy groups and 8 groups of delayed neutron precursors using the cross section data generated by the ERANOS code. The results of the static state have been compared with those obtained using ERANOS. The results show an adequate agreement between the two calculations. Noise calculations for the ESFR core have also been performed and demonstrated with an assumption of the perturbation of the absorption cross section located at the central fuel ring.

fast reactor

neutron noise

hexagonal geometry

ESFR

Author

Hoai Nam Tran

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Nuclear Engineering

Florian Zylbersztejn

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Nuclear Engineering

Christophe Demaziere

Chalmers, Applied Physics, Nuclear Engineering

C. Jammes

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)

P. Filliatre

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)

Annals of Nuclear Energy

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

Vol. 62 158-169

Subject Categories

Other Engineering and Technologies

Other Physics Topics

Areas of Advance

Energy

DOI

10.1016/j.anucene.2013.06.017

More information

Latest update

4/11/2018