Experimental Comparisons of 3D Reconstructed Pin-Power Distributions in Full-Scale BWR Fuel Assemblies

Rakesh Chawla, Flavio Dante Giust
2011
Journal paper

In this paper, reconstructed local fission rates obtained with the two-group nodal diffusion program PRESTO-2, used at the Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant (KKL) in Switzerland, are compared with experimental results and MCNPX calculations. The experimental facility consists of a test zone, where the measurements are made, surrounded by a buffer zone and two driver zones that render the system critical and also contain the control rods. The test zone consists of a tank that contains a 3x3 array of BWR fuel assemblies of type SVEA-96+. Four cases are considered, all corresponding to a 1.23 m high active zone moderated with light water at room temperature: (1) axially uniform enrichment and gadolinium content, (2) like case 1 but with an L-shaped control blade completely inserted, (3) enrichment and gadolinium content change at the core midplane, and (4) like case 2 but with the control blade partially inserted. The comparisons give insight into the accuracy of the pin-power reconstruction methodology. The axially uniform case without control blade shows a good radial agreement and a well predicted axial curvature of the flux. On the other hand, systematic deviations are observed in the radial direction for the controlled cases, with the axial heterogeneities causing deviations around the discontinuity and also in the axial curvature of the flux. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4002823]

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Rakesh Chawla, Flavio Dante Giust
2011
Journal paper

Abstract

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https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/171830?ln=en

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Related concepts (3)

Control rod

Control rods are used in nuclear reactors to control the rate of fission of the nuclear fuel – uranium or plutonium. Their compositions include chemical elements such as boron, cadmium, silver, hafnium, or indium, that are capable of absorbing many neutrons without themselves decaying. These elements have different neutron capture cross sections for neutrons of various energies. Boiling water reactors (BWR), pressurized water reactors (PWR), and heavy-water reactors (HWR) operate with thermal neutrons, while breeder reactors operate with fast neutrons.

Light-water reactor

The light-water reactor (LWR) is a type of thermal-neutron reactor that uses normal water, as opposed to heavy water, as both its coolant and neutron moderator; furthermore a solid form of fissile elements is used as fuel. Thermal-neutron reactors are the most common type of nuclear reactor, and light-water reactors are the most common type of thermal-neutron reactor. There are three varieties of light-water reactors: the pressurized water reactor (PWR), the boiling water reactor (BWR), and (most designs of) the supercritical water reactor (SCWR).

Nuclear power plant

A nuclear power plant (NPP) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. , the International Atomic Energy Agency reported there were 412 nuclear power reactors in operation in 31 countries around the world, and 57 nuclear power reactors under construction.