Plutonium Production Reactor Progression Problems: Magnox Neutronics Benchmarks

Andrew J. Conant, Nicholas P. Luciano, Brian J. Ade, Cole Gentry, Benjamin S. Collins

Research output: Book/ReportCommissioned report

Abstract

The goal of this document is to provide a set of comprehensive benchmarking neutronics problems for gas-cooled, graphite-moderated reactors. The problems are designed to be representative problems that increase in complexity to test performance of various codes. For the simulation of the benchmarking problems, the Shift Monte Carlo code and MPACT deterministic code are chosen because of their state-of-the-art capabilities, which are optimized for various reactor designs. Because these codes have been developed primarily for light water reactor applications, their application to graphite-moderated, gas-cooled reactors has not been extensively explored. This report attempts to evaluate benchmarks for a Magnox-style reactor, one that is graphite-moderated and gas-cooled. Parameters that are calculated and presented in this benchmark include the eigenvalue, peaking factors, and isotope concentrations. Results show good agreement between Shift and MPACT, and demonstrate the capability of MPACT to model graphite-moderated systems well.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationUnited States
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
  • 42 ENGINEERING

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