A study on the applicability of simplified few-group GET (Generalized Equivalence Theory) to cylindrical molten salt fast reactor

Abstract

One of the essential requirements for molten salt reactor (MSR) design is methodology for analyzing multi-physics phenomena, such as the behavior of liquid fuel. In the research of Molten Salt Fast Reactors (MSFRs), the Neutron Diffusion Equation (NDE) is widely employed. This study introduces a method to enhance the accuracy of neutronic analysis of MSFR using the NDE. Using the simple structure of MSFR and the characteristics of liquid nuclear fuel, it is intended to enable the application of the simple equivalence method, which is difficult to perform on the existing fast reactor. A straightforward yet effective approach named the simplified Generalized Equivalence Theory (simplified GET) is proposed for applying flux-volume-weighted homogenized cross-sections and representative Discontinuity Factor (DF) values obtained at material. This approach, while similar to the General Equivalence Theory (GET) method, significantly simplifies the enhancement of accuracy in reactor analysis, minimizing computational efforts. Our investigation spans from the initial core to the burned core, ensuring the applicability of this simple method throughout the reactor's operational life. The proposed method demonstrates promising results, offering a viable solution to improve the accuracy of NDE-based calculations in MSFRs.

Keywords

• Molten salt fast reactor
• Neutron diffusion equation
• General equivalence theory
• Simplified equivalence theory
• Discontinuity factor