TY - GEN
T1 - A new cross-section generation model in the fast code system and its application to the Gen-IV gas-cooled fast reactor
AU - Pelloni, Sandro
AU - Mikityuk, Konstantin
AU - Epiney, Aaron
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The cross-section generation scheme employed in the 3D spatial kinetics, PARCS subroutines of the FAST code system being used and developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is currently based on the use of pre-processed region-wise macroscopic cross-sections for reference conditions, and their first order derivatives with respect to the state variables. In this study, this approach is compared for both steady-state and transient conditions to a more rigorous background cross-section, or sigma-zero (σ0-) model accounting for interrelations between the various feedback effects. Thereby, use is made of the simulation of hypothetical unprotected overcooling and loss of flow transients for the Gen IV Gas-cooled Fast Reactor (GFR). As expected, for this kind of transients without strong interrelations of the feedback effects, reactivity and power evolutions indicate overall good agreement of the two methods, which systematically use ERANOS cross-sections and consistent delayed neutron data. In addition, the relative differences of steady-state values between the σ0-model and corresponding ERANOS calculations are rather small. These findings give a certain confidence in the correct implementation and suitability of the new methodology. After completion of these verifications, it is foreseen to make additional comparisons for control assembly fast movements or accidental ejections. As opposite to the cases investigated in this study, larger differences may then be expected.
AB - The cross-section generation scheme employed in the 3D spatial kinetics, PARCS subroutines of the FAST code system being used and developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is currently based on the use of pre-processed region-wise macroscopic cross-sections for reference conditions, and their first order derivatives with respect to the state variables. In this study, this approach is compared for both steady-state and transient conditions to a more rigorous background cross-section, or sigma-zero (σ0-) model accounting for interrelations between the various feedback effects. Thereby, use is made of the simulation of hypothetical unprotected overcooling and loss of flow transients for the Gen IV Gas-cooled Fast Reactor (GFR). As expected, for this kind of transients without strong interrelations of the feedback effects, reactivity and power evolutions indicate overall good agreement of the two methods, which systematically use ERANOS cross-sections and consistent delayed neutron data. In addition, the relative differences of steady-state values between the σ0-model and corresponding ERANOS calculations are rather small. These findings give a certain confidence in the correct implementation and suitability of the new methodology. After completion of these verifications, it is foreseen to make additional comparisons for control assembly fast movements or accidental ejections. As opposite to the cases investigated in this study, larger differences may then be expected.
KW - Cross-section generation
KW - ERANOS
KW - Gen IV Gas cooled Fast Reactor (GFR)
KW - Spatial kinetics
KW - Transient analysis
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/76749136362
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:76749136362
SN - 9781615673490
T3 - American Nuclear Society - International Conference on Mathematics, Computational Methods and Reactor Physics 2009, M and C 2009
SP - 801
EP - 812
BT - American Nuclear Society - International Conference on Mathematics, Computational Methods and Reactor Physics 2009, M and C 2009
T2 - International Conference on Mathematics, Computational Methods and Reactor Physics 2009, M and C 2009
Y2 - 3 May 2009 through 7 May 2009
ER -