Calculation of Kinetics Parameters for the NBSR

Hanson A. L. ; Diamond D.

关键词: DELAYED NEUTRON FRACTION;    FISSION PRODUCTS;    FUEL CYCLE;    KINETICS;    LIFETIME;    NEUTRONS;    PHOTONEUTRONS;    PROMPT NEUTRONS;    RECOMMENDATIONS;    URANIUM neutron lifetime;    HEU;    LEU;    fission;    kinetics model;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1043393
RP-ID  :  BNL--97007-2012
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1043393
Others  :  R&D Project: 05379
Others  :  TRN: US1203277

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

The delayed neutron fraction and prompt neutron lifetime have been calculated at different times in the fuel cycle for the NBSR when fueled with both high-enriched uranium (HEU) and low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. The best-estimate values for both the delayed neutron fraction and the prompt neutron lifetime are the result of calculations using MCNP5-1.60 with the most recent ENDFB-VII evaluations. The best-estimate values for the total delayed neutron fraction from fission products are 0.00665 and 0.00661 for the HEU fueled core at startup and end-of-cycle, respectively. For the LEU fuel the best estimate values are 0.00650 and 0.00648 at startup and end-of-cycle, respectively. The present recommendations for the delayed neutron fractions from fission products are smaller than the value reported previously of 0.00726 for the HEU fuel. The best-estimate values for the contribution from photoneutrons will remain as 0.000316, independent of the fuel or time in the cycle.The values of the prompt neutron lifetime as calculated with MCNP5-1.60 are compared to values calculated with two other independent methods and the results are in reasonable agreement with each other. The recommended, conservative values of the neutron lifetime for the HEU fuel are 650 {micro}s and 750 {micro}s for the startup and end-of-cycle conditions, respectively. For LEU fuel the recommended, conservative values are 600 {micro}s and 700 {micro}s for the startup and end-of-cycle conditions, respectively. In all three calculations, the prompt neutron lifetime was determined to be longer for the end-of-cycle equilibrium condition when compared to the startup condition. The results of the three analyses were in agreement that the LEU fuel will exhibit a shorter prompt neutron lifetime when compared to the HEU fuel.