Energy deposition analysis for VERA progression problems by MCNP

Xinyan Wang, Yuxuan Liu, William Martin, Kang Seog Kim

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

To accurately model the heat distribution in a reactor core, the global energy deposition due to transport of gamma rays and neutrons should be taken into account. There has been ongoing work to improve the energy deposition models in the CASL neutronics code MPACT. In order to provide a reference solution for these models, MCNP has been used in this work to develop a set of energy deposition benchmark problems based on the selected VERA Progression Problems including 2-D, 3-D assemblies and 2-D quarter core cases. A well-defined scheme for energy deposition tally with MCNP is used in this study. The results show that the heat distribution is flatter than the fission rate, with a maximum pin power difference of 2.5% for a 2D quarter core and maximum axial power difference of 0.6% for a 3D assembly. It also shows that the energy deposited in non-fuel regions is non-trivial, e.g., the energy deposited in an AIC control rod is approximately 1/4 of that in a fuel pin. The benchmark results will be useful to investigate and verify the gamma smearing models to be developed in MPACT.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Physics of Reactors, PHYSOR 2018
Subtitle of host publicationReactor Physics Paving the Way Towards More Efficient Systems
PublisherSociedad Nuclear Mexicana, A.C.
Pages2126-2137
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9781713808510
StatePublished - 2018
Event2018 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Reactor Physics Paving the Way Towards More Efficient Systems, PHYSOR 2018 - Cancun, Mexico
Duration: Apr 22 2018Apr 26 2018

Publication series

NameInternational Conference on Physics of Reactors, PHYSOR 2018: Reactor Physics Paving the Way Towards More Efficient Systems
VolumePart F168384-4

Conference

Conference2018 International Conference on Physics of Reactors: Reactor Physics Paving the Way Towards More Efficient Systems, PHYSOR 2018
Country/TerritoryMexico
CityCancun
Period04/22/1804/26/18

Keywords

  • Energy Deposition
  • Gamma Smearing
  • MCNP
  • MPACT

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