Use of scale continuous-energy Monte Carlo tools for eigenvalue sensitivity coefficient calculations

Christopher M. Perfetti, Bradley T. Rearden

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

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Tools for Sensitivity and UNcertainty Analysis Methodology Implementation (TSUNAMI) code within the SCALE code system makes use of eigenvalue sensitivity coefficients for an extensive number of criticality safety applications, such as quantifying the data-induced uncertainty in the eigenvalue of critical systems, assessing the neutronic similarity between different critical systems, and guiding nuclear data adjustment studies. The need to model geometrically complex systems with improved fidelity and the desire to extend TSUNAMI analysis to advanced applications have motivated the development of a methodology for calculating sensitivity coefficients in continuous-energy (CE) Monte Carlo applications. The Contributon-Linked eigenvalue sensitivity/Uncertainty estimation via Tracklength importance CHaracterization (CLUTCH) and Iterated Fission Probability (IFP) eigenvalue sensitivity methods were recently implemented in the CE KENO framework to enable TSUNAMI-3D to perform eigenvalue sensitivity calculations in CE applications, thereby improving the accuracy in eigenvalue and eigenvalue sensitivity calculations as compared to multigroup tools. The CE KENO and CE TSUNAMI tools were used to analyze two difficult models of critical benchmarks, and produced eigenvalue and eigenvalue sensitivity coefficient results that showed a marked improvement in accuracy. The CLUTCH sensitivity method in particular excelled in terms of efficiency and computational memory requirements.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTopical Meeting Held by the ANS Nuclear Criticality Safety Division, NCSD 2013 - Criticality Safety in the Modern Era
Subtitle of host publicationRaising the Bar
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages292-306
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)9781629938165
StatePublished - 2013
EventTopical Meeting Held by the ANS Nuclear Criticality Safety Division - Criticality Safety in the Modern Era: Raising the Bar, NCSD 2013 - Wilmington, NC, United States
Duration: Sep 29 2013Oct 3 2013

Publication series

NameTopical Meeting Held by the ANS Nuclear Criticality Safety Division, NCSD 2013 - Criticality Safety in the Modern Era: Raising the Bar

Conference

ConferenceTopical Meeting Held by the ANS Nuclear Criticality Safety Division - Criticality Safety in the Modern Era: Raising the Bar, NCSD 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWilmington, NC
Period09/29/1310/3/13

Keywords

  • CLUTCH
  • Continuous-energy
  • Eigenvalue sensitivity coefficient calculations
  • IFP
  • TSUNAMI

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