Effect of reflected neutrons for fast pulsed reactor characteristics with metallic nuclear fuel

Abstract

BackgroundFast neutron pulsed reactors are sensitive to wall scattering neutrons, and their waveforms are changed by reflected neutrons. In addition, their operation may be adversely affected when there are too many reflected neutrons.PurposeThis study aims to solve the problem of fast neutron pulse reactor wall reflection neutron.MethodThe point reactor kinetic method containing the reflection effect, Monte Carlo method, and ANSYS were combined to analyze the Godiva-I transient process in fast neutron pulsed reactor with wall-reflected neutron effect. Firstly, the quench coefficient of the fast neutron pulsed reactor was calculated. Then, the point reactor kinetic method containing the reflection effect was established. Finally, the thermal power obtained from the neutronics calculation was combined with the ANSYS thermal-mechanical module to establish the thermal-mechanical calculation method for fast neutron pulsed reactor, and the effect of wall-reflected neutrons was analyzed and calculated.ResultsThe results show that the reflected neutrons increased the rear edge of the pulse. The reactivity decreases when the flat is washed whilst the core displacement and stress are improved.ConclusionsThe method established in this study can reasonably explain the phenomenon of reduction in attenuation and the increase in power after pulse.

Keywords

• fast pulsed reactor
• reflected neutron
• neutronic/thermal-mechanical coupling
• point reactor kinetic
• nuclear safety analysis