Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Multigroup”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 415 records · Page 23

Derivation of the Point-Kinetics Parameters for the Coupled Reactors

The design of coupled reactors, which provide two distinct spectral zones (fast and thermal), has recently drawn attention because it can provide configurations that could not be met in current thermal neutron test reactors and thus allows versatile irradiation tasks. A coupled reactor core is characterized by the neutron multiplicity of each zone as well as by the coupling between the two zones. It is desired to evaluate the integral point kinetics parameters that characterize the neutron physics of the coupled system. This summary provides a derivation of the equations for evaluating these point kinetics parameters. Following the strong and the weak form of the multigroup diffusion equation, the weak forms for the partial forward and adjoint solutions, each for a particular active region of the reactor core, are derived. These partial solutions are then used to collapse the weak form into the coupled-reactor point kinetics equations with the approximation of equilibrium. It is noted that these parameters are not meant for transient analysis because of the equilibrium approximation. They are rather used for characterizing the coupled system. The derived reactivity equations are then compared with those in Ref. 1. The equations are implemented in Rattlesnake, the INL MOOSE-based radiation transport application for multi-physics simulations. Numerical results are presented for a simple two-group problem. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Comparisons between a priori Uncertainty Quantification and Calculation/Measurement Discrepancies Applied to the MERCI UO{sub 2} Fuel Rod Decay Heat Experiment

In 2008, an UO{sub 2} fuel rod was irradiated up to ∼ 3.5 GWd/tHL in the CEA/Saclay research reactor Osiris through the MERCI experiment. Some rod's pellets were analysed. Experimental results were obtained: - fuel rod decay heat measurement by calorimetry (cooling times from 27 minutes to 42 days), - evaluation of the amounts of some nuclei (U, Pu, Cs, Nd...) by isotopic dilution mass spectrometry, - nuclide activities. Comparison of type (C - M)/M where C is the calculated decay heat and M the experimentally measured decay heat was reported in reference. Neutronics flux was computed by CEA TRIPOLI-4 Monte-Carlo or APOLLO2 deterministic transport code system. Irradiation and cooling phases were simulated with CEA DARWIN/PEPIN2 code system. Good agreements were globally shown between numerical simulation results and experimental measurements on total decay heat. Uncertainty propagation in this previous work was established from Rebah's studies. These last years, within the framework of supports to its industrial partners EDF and Areva, the CEA/DEN has implemented two different approaches to propagate nuclear data uncertainties to depletion code outputs. A direct forward deterministic perturbation method using sensitivity profiles was implemented in the French industrial depletion code system DARWIN/PEPIN2. Meanwhile, a propagation based on Monte Carlo correlated sampling was achieved using the CEA uncertainty platform URANIE and the new generation depletion code MENDEL. Both methods will be described in this article. Uncertainties on nuclear data (independent fission yields, multigroup microscopic cross sections, radioactive decay constants, radioactive decay branching ratio and radioactive decay energies) are propagated to decay heat and isotopic concentrations. To match MERCI first study, flux computation is realized by APOLLO2. Furthermore, uncertainty quantification (UQ) is re-evaluated by both DARWIN/PEPIN2 and MENDEL codes. It is an important stage in the process of validating both depletion codes with their respective data library. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

New Version of the MCNP Analytic Criticality Benchmark Suite

Analytical benchmarks provide an invaluable tool for verifying computer codes used to simulate neutron transport. Several collections of analytical benchmark problems are used routinely in the verification of production Monte Carlo codes such as MCNP{sup R}. Verification of a computer code is a necessary prerequisite to the more complex validation process. The verification process confirms that a code performs its intended functions correctly. The validation process involves determining the absolute accuracy of code results vs. nature. In typical validations, results are computed for a set of benchmark experiments using a particular methodology (code, cross-section data with uncertainties, and modeling) and compared to the measured results from the set of benchmark experiments. The validation process determines bias, bias uncertainty, and possibly additional margins. Verification is generally performed by the code developers, while validation is generally performed by code users for a particular application space. The VERIFICATION-KEFF suite of criticality problems was originally a set of 75 criticality problems found in the literature for which exact analytical solutions are available. Even though the spatial and energy detail is necessarily limited in analytical benchmarks, typically to a few regions or energy groups, the exact solutions obtained can be used to verify that the basic algorithms, mathematics, and methods used in complex production codes perform correctly. The present work has focused on revisiting this benchmark suite. A thorough review of the problems resulted in discarding some of them as not suitable for MCNP benchmarking. For the remaining problems, many of them were reformulated to permit execution in either multigroup mode or in the normal continuous-energy mode for MCNP. Execution of the benchmarks in continuous-energy mode provides a significant advance to MCNP verification methods. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

A Case Study in the Application of TSUNAMI-3D - Part 2, Continuous Energy

The use of the sensitivity and uncertainty tool suite within SCALE, which is known as the TSUNAMI suite, has grown following its initial introduction more than a decade ago. Proper use of this tool provides a more complete understanding of system responses to perturbations, especially in the area of nuclear cross section uncertainties. Recent advances within TSUNAMI have added generalized perturbation theory to the k{sub eff} sensitivity capability that was included in TSUNAMI originally. The sensitivities can also be used to quantify the similarity of two systems. As an example, calculated sensitivities can be combined with cross section uncertainties to determine the similarity index ck. The generation of sensitivity data is encouraged in the review process for new critical experiment requests sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP) to demonstrate that the proposed experiment will satisfy the identified data need. Many analysts participate in this process, but many have not received proper training in the use of the TSUNAMI tools. The adjoint perturbation theory used to calculate sensitivities is not typically included in nuclear engineering curricula, leaving inexperienced engineers particularly at risk for incorrect use of the tools. The first step in the use of the TSUNAMI tools is the generation of a sensitivity data file (SDF), which contains all of the energy-dependent sensitivity data generated for a model. Most often, the SDF is generated from a three-dimensional (3D) model using either the KENO V.a or KENO-VI code within the TSUNAMI-3D sequence. The sensitivity data generated in TSUNAMI-3D must be accurate for correct quantification of system similarity or any other use of the sensitivity data. The sensitivities calculated by TSUNAMI can be affected by many of the input parameters, cross section processing models, and geometry modeling techniques used within the TSUNAMI-3D input. Fortunately, the total sensitivity of the most important nuclides can be confirmed simply by using direct perturbation (DP) calculations. Confirmation of the total sensitivity of these important nuclides provides confidence that the flux and importance function calculated within the TSUNAMI sequence will yield accurate sensitivities for all nuclides, reactions, and energies of interest. This process is essentially identical for multigroup (MG) and continuous-energy (CE) methods introduced in SCALE 6.2. This paper discusses the use of direct perturbation calculations and provides a case study in the use of DP calculations to confirm accurate sensitivities generated by the CE CLUTCH methods in TSUNAMI-3D for a particular benchmark experiment. A companion paper provides a similar case study applying the MG TSUNAMI capability to the same critical experiment. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Resonance Self-Shielding Using Deterministic Transport Methods with Pointwise Cross Sections (Invited) - Eugene P. Wigner Reactor Physics Award

The difficulty of predicting resonance absorption has been recognized since the birth of reactor physics. A paper published by Wigner, et al. in 1955 describes pioneering theoretical work done in 1941 to provide an estimate for the resonance absorption in heterogeneous uranium lattices. This work introduced many fundamental concepts, including the narrow resonance (NR) approximation and the Wigner rational expression for the escape probability from a fuel lump, and it established an equivalence relation for resonance absorption in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. During the 1960's, Bondarenko proposed an approach in which resonance shielding factors are precomputed and parametrized as a function of the background cross section by using the NR approximation and equivalence theory. This provided an efficient technique for treating resonance absorption in reactor lattices. The Bondarenko method and its modern variations (e.g., certain subgroup techniques) have become the predominate method for resonance shielding calculations in reactor physics. However, this approach has several limitations, most of which are well known, such as the treatment of resonance interference effects and its reliance on homogeneous-heterogeneous equivalence theory relationships. Other limitations are more subtle and less generally recognized, such as neglecting the impact of self-shielding the multigroup (MG) elastic removal cross section and the effects of directionally dependent shielding on the total cross section. This paper and the accompanying presentation apply deterministic solutions of the continuous energy (CE) neutron transport equation to examine common approximations made in resonance methods for a uniform lattice. The calculated fine-structure spectra are used to calibrate the impact of the approximations and describe how results from CE flux solution can be incorporated in the Bondarenko self-shielding method to improve the accuracy. (authors)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Improved Gamma Yield and Interaction Cross-Section Libraries of MC2-3

The MC{sup 2}-3 code developed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has been widely used for multigroup cross section generation for fast reactor design and analysis. The neutron cross sections generated with MC{sup 2}-3 have been validated with various fast critical experiments. The gamma production data and interaction cross sections were also verified with the EBR-II benchmark problem. The current gamma calculation process is based on the 21-group gamma libraries generated with the NJOY code, which does not include the delayed gamma production and does not account for the self-shielding effect on the KERMA (Kinetic Energy Released in Material) factor. In order to improve gamma prediction accuracy, the gamma libraries of MC{sup 2}-3 have recently been extended from 21 to 94 groups, including delayed gamma data and kinetic energy release per reaction data. The latter is used to take into account the self-shielding effect on KERMA factors. Gamma transport calculation capabilities have also been added to MC{sup 2}-3. In this paper, we present the updated data and gamma transport capabilities along with the verification tests with ABTR and EBR-II benchmark problems. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Open Source Release of NJOY2016 and NJOY21

NJOY has been the standard for nuclear data processing for many decades. NJOY is a comprehensive computer code used to produce point-wise and multigroup nuclear data application libraries from cross sections and related quantities obtained from evaluated nuclear data in the Evaluated Nuclear Data Format (ENDF). NJOY was first publicly released in 1977 and distributed by what is now the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Energy Software Center (NESC) at Argonne National Laboratory. From that time until the release of NJOY2012, NJOY has been distributed by RSICC and made available to researchers outside the United States by agreements between RSICC and the NEA Databank. NJOY2012 was distributed by the Feynman Center at Los Alamos National Laboratory which did not have agreements with the NEA Databank, thus making it more difficult for non US citizens to obtain copies of NJOY2012. Furthermore, NJOY has had export control restrictions preventing some researchers from obtaining NJOY at all. Two new versions of NJOY have been released, NJOY2016 and NJOY21, in January of 2017. Both NJOY2016 and NJOY21 have been released with no export control restrictions and are distributed with an open-source license. This is a big departure from previous releases and impacts not only who has access to NJOY, but also how updates are made available to users and how collaboration is facilitated among interested developers. In addition to distributing NJOY2016 and NJOY21 with an open-source license, these two new versions provide new capabilities for NJOY which will maintain NJOY as the standard for nuclear data processing into the foreseeable future. We report in this summary about the changes that come with these two new versions of NJOY and how this impacts the users and long-time contributors to NJOY.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Electron transport algorithms in the Integrated Tiger Series (ITS) codes - 25576

We describe the three electron-transport algorithms that have been implemented in the ITS Monte Carlo codes. While the underlying cross-section data is similar, each uses a fundamentally unique method, which at a high level are best characterized as condensed history, multigroup, and single scatter. Through a set of comparisons with experimental data and some comparisons of purely numerical results, we discuss various attributes of each of the algorithms and show some of the defects that can affect results. (authors)

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Customized multi-group cross section generation with NJOY for discrete ordinates X-ray computed tomography and radiography simulation - 25589

The purpose of this work was to explore the creation of photo-atomic multi-group cross section libraries to be used with a software package DOCTORS (Discrete Ordinates Computed Tomography and Radiography Simulator). This software solves the linear Boltzmann equation using the discrete ordinates method. To create these libraries, NJOY2016 was used, creating both fine and broad energy multi-group cross section files. The cross section's accuracy was tested against an equivalent Monte Carlo simulation using MCNP6. Two simulation geometries were used. The first, a cylindrical water phantom with a single source projection placed in front, simulating an X-ray radiography. The second used the same water phantom with 16 cone beam sources placed evenly around the phantom to simulate a computed tomography (CT) scan. The accuracy of the fine energy multi-group cross sections when used in DOCTORS has been verified. The accuracy of the broad energy multigroup cross sections when used in DOCTORS shows that more work must be done before they can be used reliably. (authors)

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

ITS version 6.4: The Integrated TIGER Series of Monte Carlo Electron/Photon Radiation Transport Codes - Paper 40

ITS (Integrated TIGER Series) is a suite of fully coupled electron/photon Monte Carlo radiation transport codes. The package contains programs to perform 1D, 2D and 3D simulations. The 3D geometry representations include the traditional combinatorial geometry (CG), facet-based models, CAD models for those users who have a license for the ACIS{sup R} CAD libraries, and hybrid models of any combination. There is a multigroup version which permits adjoint analysis. The availability of source code permits the more sophisticated user to tailor the code to specific applications and to extend the capabilities of the codes to more complex applications. ITS is presently available only through a U.S.-government-use license. It is available once again through the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC). (authors)

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

SNS Sample Activation Calculator Experimental Validation - Paper 79

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) uses the Sample Activation Calculator (SAC) to calculate the activation of all samples after they have been exposed to the neutron beam in any of the neutron scattering instruments at the SNS beamlines. The SAC web page takes user inputs (choice of beamline, the mass, composition and area of the sample, irradiation time, decay time, etc.) and then calculates the activation for the sample. In recent years, the SAC has been incorporated into the user proposal and sample handling process, and beamline scientists and users have noticed discrepancies in the predicted activation of their samples. As a part of the Neutronics Analysis Group at SNS, we were tasked with validating the SAC tool and diagnosing the origin of the discrepancies seen by the beamline scientists and the users. In the process of performing these measurements, we additionally found that several aspects of realistic neutron scattering operations, and thus sample exposure, cannot be captured with current configuration of the SAC tool. Typical neutron scattering samples are irradiated for multiple periods with different neutron energy ranges; the realities of accelerator operation indicate that not all of those periods will be at the same accelerator power, and scattering samples are frequently not fully illuminated by the well-collimated neutron beam. Finally, we will explore whether neutron beams, as modified by neutron guide systems with energy-dependent intensity modifications and by precise energy-band defining mechanical choppers, are suitably analyzed with multigroup cross section libraries in which there are typically very few energy groups below one eV. (authors)

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Development and Testing of Nuclear Data Libraries for Improved Energy Deposition Modeling - Paper 144

Accurate calculations of local energy deposition rates require the presence of gamma production data (GPD) in the nuclear data library used by radiation transport codes such as MCNP5, MONACO, or Denovo. The lack of GPD in the underlying nuclear data library can cause significant over-prediction of local heat generation rates with a corresponding under-prediction of heat generation rates away from a region of interest. To address this concern, continuous energy (CE) and multigroup (MG) cross section libraries with additional GPD have been created. Both ACE- and AMPX-formatted CE libraries, as well as ANISN- and AMPX-formatted MG libraries, have been created and are undergoing verification and validation (V and V) testing. A hybrid data set consisting of cross-section evaluations from five different nuclear data repositories has been developed. This hybrid data set, referred to as GPD-Rev0, is intended to support enhanced energy deposition calculations. Code-specific libraries in CE ACE, CE AMPX, MG AMPX, and MG ANISN formats have been created from the GPD-Rev0 data set. V and V testing has demonstrated that these various code-specific libraries are performing well for the intended applications. Localized over- and under-predictions of HFIR heating rates have been addressed without adversely affecting the prediction of other key operating parameters. (authors)

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Critical and subcritical mass computations for {sup 247}Cm - 14378

Experimental nuclear criticality data are unavailable for many special actinides so subcritical limits are established using computations and conservative practices. Computations are done using codes in the SCALE6.1 system and the MCNP6, version 1.0, Monte Carlo code with cross sections based on Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF) B-VI, B-VII.0, and B-VII.1 data. Both SCALE multigroup and MCNP continuous energy cross sections are used to estimate critical masses of unreflected, stainless steel reflected, and water reflected spherical {sup 247}Cm metal/water systems. For well moderated systems the critical masses derived using ENDF/B-VII data are about half those previously reported. The difference appears to be caused by changes in the ENDF/B-VII fission cross sections and an overall increase in the value of ν-bar. Subcritical mass limits are derived based on the critical mass estimates. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Investigation of the continuous-energy sensitivity methods in scale 6.2 using Tsunami-3D - 14579

The SCALE 6.1 code system includes a multigroup (MG) method for three-dimensional (3D) sensitivity analyses via the Tools for Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis Methodology Implementation (TSUNAMI), and the upcoming release of SCALE 6.2 will feature the system's first implementation of continuous-energy (CE) sensitivity methods. Detailed information regarding the CE TSUNAMI-3D eigenvalue sensitivity methods is provided in a companion paper. This work compares the results of TSUNAMI-3D calculations using the traditional MG approach to the new CE CLUTCH method in SCALE 6.2. The systems examined in this study include combinations of fast, thermal, and mixed spectra with metal, compound, and solution material forms. The primary fissile species include low-enriched uranium, intermediate-enriched uranium, high-enriched uranium, plutonium, and mixed uranium and plutonium. This broad range of systems expands the experience base with the CE CLUTCH method, identifies best practices for using the code, and provides generic user guidance for utilizing this new capability. Additionally, the study demonstrates the accuracy and usefulness of the CE CLUTCH method, especially for systems for which MG methods perform poorly. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Experimental validation of the Cristal V2.0 French criticality calculation package - 14587

A new version of the CRISTAL criticality calculation package, named CRISTAL V2.0 [1], has been developed by IRSN and CEA, in collaboration with AREVA and EDF. Four calculation routes are now available, using nuclear data issued from the JEFF-3.1.1 evaluation: two multigroup routes based on 281 groups cross-sections (APOLLO2 - MORET 5 or APOLLO2-Sn calculations), a pointwise Monte Carlo route (TRIPOLI-4{sup R}) and a criticality standard calculation route. The CRISTAL V2.0 package, which will be delivered soon to OECD/NEA data bank, benefits from a broad validation database covering almost all areas of criticality-safety applications, from fuel fabrication to reprocessing, including transportation. 3,127 critical experiments, corresponding to 342 series, either issued from the OECD/ICSBEP Handbook or performed in French facilities (confidential data) were selected for the CRISTAL V2.0 validation database. Currently, more than 2,300 experiments are already part of the validation database. This validation work highlights an overall consistency to experimental data and inter-comparisons between the different calculation routes mainly show good agreements on a large set of common experiments. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Validation of Scale 6.2 criticality calculations using KENO V.A and KENO-VI - 14603

SCALE 6.2 provides enhancements for criticality calculations relative to SCALE 6.1, especially with updated nuclear data libraries, resonance self-shielding options for multigroup (MG) calculations, and problem-dependent temperature treatments for continuous-energy (CE) calculations. Benchmark experiments from the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project that are available in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Verified, Archived, Library of Inputs and Data (VALID) were applied in this validation effort to examine the impact of the SCALE 6.2 enhancements. Over 300 cases are drawn from the VALID library for testing KENO V.a, and a more limited set of approximately 50 configurations is used for validation of KENO-VI. A total of 401 unique critical experiments are used in this validation effort. In some cases, the KENO V.a models were converted to KENO-VI models so that the performance of both codes could be assessed for the same systems. Validation results for the SCALE 6.2 ENDF/B-VII.1 nuclear data libraries are presented, including MG neutron data in 56- and 252-group structures as well as CE data. The performance of all three multipurpose neutron libraries in calculating k{sub eff} is examined with critical experiment models covering a wide range of fuels, moderators, reflectors, absorbers, and neutron spectra. The SCALE 6.2 ENDF/B-VII.1 coupled neutron-photon library, primarily developed for shielding applications with 200 neutron groups and 47 gamma groups, provides additional energy resolution for fast systems relative to the MG neutron libraries which were developed to produce low biases for thermal neutron systems. The applicability of this library to criticality calculations for fast neutron spectrum systems is not investigated here but will be addressed in the final SCALE 6.2 validation report. The results of these calculations demonstrate that SCALE 6.2 generally provides lower biases than SCALE 6.1 and that the two versions of KENO provide equivalent results on the same suite of problems. SCALE 6.2 also includes an updated neutron cross-section covariance library based on the ENDF/B-VII.1 covariance data. The effect of these updated covariances on the uncertainty in k{sub eff} due to cross section uncertainties is also presented for some cases. A more thorough investigation of the updated covariance data is presented in a companion paper. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Criticality safety enhancements for SCALE 6.2 and beyond - 14648

SCALE is a widely used suite of tools for nuclear systems modeling and simulation that provides comprehensive, verified and validated, user-friendly capabilities for criticality safety, reactor physics, radiation shielding, and sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. Since 1980, regulators, industry, and research institutions around the world have relied on SCALE for nuclear safety analysis and design. SCALE 6.2 provides several new capabilities and significant improvements in many existing features for criticality safety analysis. Enhancements are realized for nuclear data; multigroup resonance self-shielding; continuous-energy Monte Carlo analysis for sensitivity/uncertainty analysis, radiation shielding, and depletion; and graphical user interfaces. An overview of these capabilities is provided in this paper, and additional details are provided in several companion papers. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗

Deterministic-Monte Carlo Hybrid Methods for Eigenvalue Sensitivity Coefficient Calculations

The TSUNAMI suite within the SCALE code package includes several methods for generating sensitivity data, including multigroup (MG) and continuous-energy (CE) capabilities. For generating sensitivities with CE data, three methods are available in SCALE 6.3.0: (1) the iterated fission probability (IFP) method with the KENO Monte Carlo transport solver, (2) IFP with the Shift Monte Carlo transport solver, and (3) the Contributon-Linked eigenvalue sensitivity/Uncertainty estimation via Tracklength importance Characterization (CLUTCH) with the KENO Monte Carlo transport solver. Currently, it is difficult to generate accurate sensitivities with large reflectors when using the CLUTCH method, specifically with fissionable and hydrogenous materials. To address this issue, the work presented herein examines a methodology to calculate the adjoint flux externally with the 3D deterministic SN transport code DENOVO in SCALE; the result is then read directly into the CLUTCH-TSUNAMI sequence. This hybridization method replaces the Monte Carlo F*(r) calculation in CLUTCH while still utilizing the forward calculation. The critical benchmark HEU-MET-FAST-028-001 is used to generate sensitivities based on the inability of CLUTCH to generate accurate sensitivities. Results from the hybrid method appear to generate sensitivity values that are in excellent agreement with direct perturbations. Although further testing is needed, the method provides promising results for the development and utility of a hybrid method for use in TSUNAMI.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗