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DOE OSTI2019

Verification of the ENDF/B-VII.1 and VIII.0 AMPX 1597-Group Libraries for Advanced Reactor Analysis

The SCALE/AMPX multigroup (MG) cross section processing procedure has been updated to minimize reactivity differences for various advanced thermal and fast reactor designs, as observed for the current MG libraries, resulting in excellent agreement between the calculations with the new MG libraries and the continuous-energy reference calculations. The SCALE MG calculations are widely applied to thermal spectrum light-water reactor systems, as well as fast spectrum metallic systems. Due to growing interest from industry and regulators in applying SCALE for the design of fast spectrum reactors—both sodium and molten salt—it was desirable to review and improve the SCALE/AMPX procedure for unresolved resonance self-shielded data and high-energy neutron spectra. The data were improved by generating MG unresolved resonance data based on the analytic probability table method with the narrow resonance approximation and by using very fine and intermediate group structures that are typical for fast system analysis. This study focused on verifying the improved SCALE/AMPX MG cross section processing procedure and the new AMPX 1597-group library with the ENDF/B-VII.1 and VIII.0 evaluated nuclear data. The verification was made by performing reaction rate analysis and benchmark calculations for various thermal and fast reactor systems. Results indicate that the improved SCALE/AMPX MG cross section processing and libraries provide excellent results for advanced reactor analysis.

Kim, Kang Seog↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nuclear Data and Benchmarking Program: Nuclear Data Performance Assessment for Advanced Reactors

Over the last several Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF)/B releases, many updates have been introduced to the nuclear data libraries that can significantly change computational results. These changes can be particularly important for advanced reactor concepts, which are not as thoroughly investigated as those used in light water reactor (LWR) systems. Therefore, a performance assessment of the ENDF/B libraries using the SCALE 6.2.3 code package was conducted under the auspices of the U.S., Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE). The following systems relevant to the advanced reactor community were chosen as subject for investigation in this report: sodium cooled fast reactor systems, graphite moderated high temperature gas-cooled reactors, and several molten salt reactor models. At first, the similarity of the integral performance of the ENDF/B-VII.1 and ENDF/B-VIII.0 nuclear data libraries caused by compensating errors in important differential data was demonstrated. In calculations for a shipping container of high-assay low enriched uranium, the data of individual isotopes were systematically swapped between the two ENDF/B libraries. An eigenvalue difference of up to 450 pcm was found due to the use of 235 U and 238 U from one library and 1 H and 16 O from the other library. This clearly demonstrates a cross-correlation between reaction data sets of different isotopes within a library that should be reported in the evaluations. For sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) fuel assemblies, significant eigenvalue (k inf ) differences (200– 450 pcm) were found between calculations using the 2011 ENDF/B-VII.1 data and 2018 ENDF/B-VIII.0 data. These differences were mainly caused by updates of 238 U and 239 Pu neutron cross sections. Results from the multigroup (MG) calculations further revealed that the group structure of the applied MG library strongly influences the MG bias due to the importance of an appropriate energy resolution of the resonances in higher energy ranges. The application of previously used MG libraries requires new verification for advanced reactor simulation in comparisons with reference continuous-energy calculations. Nuclear data uncertainty analyses of these SFR systems resulted in eigenvalue uncertainties between 1,400 and 1,800 pcm, which are three to four times higher than corresponding uncertainties in light water reactor (LWR) systems. The main contributor to this uncertainty was found to be inelastic scattering on 238 U, which shows an uncertainty of up to 50% in the fast energy range. Other important contributors are the scattering reactions of 56 Fe and 23 Na which have so far not appeared in LWR analysis. Since the largest contribution to the eigenvalue uncertainty of SFR systems is coming from scattering reactions, it is expected that uncertainties in the angular scattering distributions also have a significant impact. Those uncertainties are, however, not available for the majority of nuclides, and the capabilities to determine sensitivities to this data are currently underdeveloped. For two graphite moderated high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) benchmarks, only the ENDF/BVII. 1 calculations resulted in consistent eigenvalues (k eff ) with the corresponding experimental measurements. Eigenvalue differences of about 1,000 pcm were found between the 2006 ENDF/B-VII.0 data and the 2011 ENDF/B-VII.1 data, primarily due to an updated carbon capture cross section in the thermal energy range in the later ENDF/B release. The ENDF/B-VIII.0 eigenvalue was larger than the ENDF/B-VII.1 eigenvalue by about 300 pcm mainly due to updates in multiple 235 U neutron cross sections, with offsetting updates in the 238 U cross sections. With ENDF/B-VIII.0, graphite can be modeled as perfect crystal or with two different porosities. The choice of the graphite evaluation can have a significant influence of the eigenvalue. For a HTGR benchmark, maximum eigenvalue differences as high as 650 pcm due to different porosities were observed. More detailed studies of the impact of the porosity are necessary while considering that the graphite porosity can vary between the used materials and changes as a function of neutron fluence. xii The uncertainty of the HTGR eigenvalues due to nuclear data uncertainties was found between 500 and 600 pcm, with the top contributor being the neutron multiplicity of 235 U. A gap in the form of missing uncertainties in graphite thermal scattering data, that might have significant impact on HTGR reactors, was identified. This gap is being investigated by the DOE-NE Nuclear Data and Benchmarking Program, as documented in a separate report The fast spectrum molten salt reactor calculations revealed similar comparisons as for the SFR assemblies. The eigenvalue uncertainties were significantly influenced by inelastic scattering on 238 U, while the impact of angular scattering distributions is unknown. For the graphite and zirconium hydride moderated system, eigenvalue uncertainties of up to 700 pcm were observed, requiring in depth analyses of the cross sections and corresponding uncertainties of the included materials. In general, it was observed that the flux spectra of the various molten salt reactor systems show significant differences, even between a fresh state and a depleted state. The choice of the energy group structure of MG calculations is therefore highly relevant; the applicability of previously used MG libraries needs to be verified. Due the unavailability of pin power measurements of advanced reactor systems, pin power calculations with both ENDF/B-VII.1 and VIII.0 data were performed for a light water reactor and compared to corresponding measurements. Both calculations show good agreement with the measurements. A comparison between the ENDF/B-VII.1 and VIII.0 results revealed small differences, mostly in the range of about 0.2%.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Independent Review of AFC 2A, 2B, and 2E ATR Irradiation Tests

As part of the Department of Energy Advanced Fuel Cycle program, a series of fuels development irradiation tests have been performed in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National Laboratory. These tests are providing excellent data for advanced fuels development. The program is focused on the transmutation of higher actinides which best can be accomplished in a sodium-cooled fast reactor. Because a fast test reactor is no longer available in the US, a special test vehicle is used to achieve near-prototypic fast reactor conditions (neutron spectra and temperature) for use in ATR (a water-cooled thermal reactor). As part of the testing program, there were many successful tests of advanced fuels including metals and ceramics. Recently however, there have been three experimental campaigns using metal fuels that experienced failure during irradiation. At the request of the program, an independent review committee was convened to review the post-test analyses performed by the fuels development team, to assess the conclusions of the team for the cause of the failures, to assess the adequacy and completeness of the analyses, to identify issues that were missed, and to make recommendations for improvements in the design and operation of future tests. Although there is some difference of opinion, the review committee largely agreed with the conclusions of the fuel development team regarding the cause of the failures. For the most part, the analyses that support the conclusions are sufficient.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Integrated FHR technology development: Tritium management, materials testing, salt chemistry control, thermal hydraulics and neutronics, associated benchmarking and commercial basis

This report summarizes the results of a 3-year Integrated Research Project (IRP) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy to address major technical challenges in the development of the Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor (FHR). The IRP universities included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of California at Berkeley (UCB), the University of Wisconsin (UW), and the University of New Mexico (UNM). The FHR is a new reactor concept less than 20 years old that combines (1) a clean fluoride salt coolant, (2) the graphite-matrix coated-particle fuel originally developed for High- Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors and (3) passive decay heat removal systems from sodium fast reactors. The base-line design is a pebble-bed FHR that delivers heat between 600 to 700°C with a 7 Li 2 BeF 4 (flibe) salt coolant to the power cycle or industrial users. The Executive Summary describes what was accomplished and summarizes major conclusions. The main report contains stand-alone sections in each major area of work. Highlights are summarized below. Tritium. The coolant salt produces tritium necessitating understanding and control of tritium. Experimental work included measuring hydrogen uptake on carbon, tritium uptake during irradiation of graphite in 700°C salt and the permeability of tritium through metals with and without coatings. An FHR systems model was developed to predict tritium behavior and enable design of tritium control systems. The leading candidate for tritium removal from the flibe salt is carbon bed outside the reactor core. Thermal hydraulics and Neutronics. A 10-meter high FHR integral effects test facility, using Dowtherm A®, has been built and used to simulate the integral response of a representative FHR to improve understanding of FHR thermal hydraulics and validate thermal hydraulics codes used for the FHR. Neutronic analysis included code-to-code benchmarking, multiphysics modeling, uncertainty analysis for nuclear data uncertainties and shielding analysis. Twisted-tube heat exchangers were examined that may provide significant cost reductions because of their improved heat-transfer performance with liquid salts. The impacts on safety and design caused by uncertainties in physical properties of the salt were assessed with recommendations on where added physical property measurements are needed. Work began on understanding radiative heat transfer that becomes important in salt systems at higher temperatures. Materials. Static corrosion tests were conducted on graphite and materials in 700°C salt -- both in the UW laboratory and in the MIT reactor. In addition to static corrosion testing, a circulating salt corrosion loop was built and is operating. Methods to measure salt properties including redox were developed. The presence of carbon increases corrosion. With good redox control, the evidence indicates stainless steel can be used as a material of construction. Benchmarking. An additional series of workshops where held to enable benchmarking and comparison of results between different investigators. Commercialization. The FHR delivers higher average-temperature (~650°C) heat to the power cycle or industry than other reactors. This enables power cycles with lower-cost heat storage for variable electricity to the grid while the reactor operates at base-load -- providing a major competitive advantage by maximizing revenue from electricity sales. In October, 2016, a new startup company named Kairos Power was formed, and opened its first office in Jack London Square, Oakland, California, in January 2017. Kairos Power exists largely due to the work that was accomplished by this IRP and the previous DOE-funded FHR IRP that performed research on FHR technology from 2012 to 2015. In September, 2018, as this IRP is concluding, Kairos Power was staffed at 60 full time employees, working to develop technology derived from this IRP. Many of these employees worked with the IRP before joining Kairos Power 1 (https://kairospower.com). Other students and researchers from this IRP have joined other startup companies, including the Terrapower Molten Chloride Fast Reactor and the Terrestrial Energy development efforts.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Preliminary Insights on Potential Transitions to Closed Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles

Closed fuel cycles with comprehensive recycle strategies are often regarded as the logical and desired end-states of long-term nuclear energy strategies; such options offer potential improvements in terms of resource supply and sustainability, waste management, and potentially nuclear security. In the DOE-NE Fuel Cycle Option Campaign report, systems with closed recycle strategies (both uranium- and thorium-based) generally dominated strategies with less comprehensive recycle approaches across many performance metrics. That being said, developing momentum to transition from the current global implementation of once-through fuel cycles has proven challenging. Intermediate paths en route to closed fuel cycles have not been readily elucidated; this is especially true for thorium-based options. A comparatively extensive amount of work has been conducted on transitions to closed fuel cycles based on uranium and plutonium, generally based on an endpoint of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). In contrast, corresponding analyses for thorium-based options are limited. Early estimates, without the benefit of full-scale modeling, were performed in conjunction with the Molten Salt Fast Reactor (MSFR) design. There is some transition analysis work associated with the Japanese THORIMS-NES molten salt design, but the scope of this work was not directly comparable with the SFR-oriented analyses and considered the thorium fission reactors as an intermediate state en route to the global deployment of accelerator-driven systems. Others have considered thorium recently, but not in a closed-recycle context. To begin to resolve this gap, this paper describes a high-level analysis and initial perspectives on the topic of transitions to closed thorium-based cycles. The emphasis on this paper is not on the specific quantitative results that are described, although some of the overall takeaways from these trends may still be useful. Instead, this paper describes the need for such analyses to be conducted, describes the methodologies by which this can be accomplished, and reports an initial demonstration of these methodologies for a specific transition candidate scenario. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Report on the Initial Fundamental Sodium-CO 2 Interaction Experiment

The U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) Advanced Reactor Concepts (ARC) Program is developing the Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) as a reactor that could dramatically improve performance in sustainability, safety, economics, security, and proliferation resistance. The near-term Program goal is to reduce technical barriers to improve the prospects of advanced technology reactor systems. In the long-term, integrated advanced reactor system designs will be developed that implement the chosen missions and complete the testing and demonstration necessary for licensing. The supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO 2 ) Brayton cycle, coupled with an SFR, has been identified as a new and innovative energy conversion technology that could contribute to meeting these objectives especially in terms of improving economics. One appealing feature of this energy conversion system is the smaller footprint that the hardware requires relative to the traditional superheated steam cycle, which is in part due to the use of Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger TM (PCHE TM ) compact diffusion-bonded heat exchangers as the heat source heat exchanger (sodium-to-CO 2 ) as well as the recuperator and cooler modules. Although PCHEs have a high degree of structural integrity, the potential for leaks to develop between the sodium and CO 2 coolant channels in the secondary heat exchanger cannot be ruled out, leading to discharge of high pressure CO2 into the secondary coolant circuit. Due to the robustness of the PCHE design, catastrophic failure leading to CO2 jet blowdown into the intermediate sodium loop is not deemed likely. Rather, small cracks (or micro-leaks) may develop in which CO 2 will bleed into the secondary system at a relatively low rate and chemically react with the sodium. The 2012 Sodium Fast Reactor Research Plan produced by Sandia National Laboratory (Denman et al., 2012) identified the interaction between sodium and CO 2 as being among the highest priority areas of research for SFR accident initiators. In fact, the report rated both the experimental database and modeling capabilities of Na-CO 2 interactions at the lowest current state of knowledge compared with the other listed high-priority accident initiator items. In recognition of the anticipated failure mode for a PCHE sodium-to-CO 2 heat exchanger, an Argonne experiment program, called SNAKE, was initiated in FY 2010 to investigate the reaction characteristics between sodium and CO 2 under micro-leak conditions.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Impact of Americium-241 (n,γ) Branching Ratio on SFR Core Reactivity and Spent Fuel Characteristics

An accurate prediction of core physics and fuel cycle parameters largely depends on the order of details and accuracy in nuclear data taken into account for actual calculations. {sup 241}Am is a major gateway nuclide for most of the minor actinides and thus an important nuclide for core physics and fuel-cycle calculations. The {sup 241}Am(n,γ) branching ratio (BR) is in fact energy dependent, therefore, it is necessary to taken into account the spectrum effect on the calculation of the average BR for the full-core depletion calculations. Moreover, the accuracy of the BR used in the depletion calculations could significantly influence the core physics performance and post irradiated fuel compositions. The BR of {sup 241}Am(n,γ) in the ENDF/B-VII.0 library is relatively small and flat in the thermal energy range, gradually increases within the intermediate energy range, and even becomes larger in the fast energy range. This indicates that the properly collapsed BR for fast reactors could be significantly different from that of thermal reactors. The evaluated BRs also differ from one evaluation to another. As seen in Table I, average BRs for several evaluated libraries calculated by means of a fast spectrum are similar but have some differences. While some of widely available and used depletion codes, such as ORIGEN in SCALE, have a capability to calculate a variable BR based on the system neutron spectrum, most of the currently available depletion codes still use a pre-determined single value BR for each library. However, ideally it should be determined on an on-the-fly basis like that of one-group cross sections. These issues provide a strong incentive to investigate the effect of different {sup 241}Am(n,γ) BRs on core and spent fuel parameters. This paper investigates the impact of the {sup 241}Am(n,γ) BR on the results of sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) full-core based fuel-cycle calculations. The analysis is performed by gradually increasing the value of BR from 0.15 to 0.25 and studying its impact on the core reactivity and characteristics of SFR spent fuels over extended storage times (∼10,000 years). (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2012

Corrosion performance of advanced structural materials in sodium.

This report gives a description of the activities in design, fabrication, construction, and assembling of a pumped sodium loop for the sodium compatibility studies on advanced structural materials. The work is the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) portion of the effort on the work project entitled, 'Sodium Compatibility of Advanced Fast Reactor Materials,' and is a part of Advanced Materials Development within the Reactor Campaign. The objective of this project is to develop information on sodium corrosion compatibility of advanced materials being considered for sodium reactor applications. This report gives the status of the sodium pumped loop at Argonne National Laboratory, the specimen details, and the technical approach to evaluate the sodium compatibility of advanced structural alloys. This report is a deliverable from ANL in FY2010 (M2GAN10SF050302) under the work package G-AN10SF0503 'Sodium Compatibility of Advanced Fast Reactor Materials.'

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2021

NRC Multiphysics Analysis Capability Deployment (FY2021 - Part 2)

This report details the progress and activities of Idaho National Laboratory (INL) on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) project “Development and Modeling Support for Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors.” Task 4b was completed for this report. INL developed a sample problem showing how to use Serpent 2 to calculate macroscopic cross sections for use in Griffin for a typical sodium fast reactor Unprotected Loss of Flow (ULOF) transient. The complicating factor is the relatively large axial gradient of the coolant (and hence fuel) temperature and its evolution during the transient. A 3D Griffin model of the Advanced Burner Test Reactor (ABTR) is coupled to the System Analysis Module (SAM) to perform the ULOF transient. The model includes various explicit feedback mechanisms for fast reactors, including Doppler, radial expansion from the displacement of the support plate, and axial expansion from the displacement of the fuel pins. The results for the ULOF transient are consistent with published values. We observed small effects in the transient results that arise from the superhomogenization equivalence correction of uniform and nonuniform temperature data sets, but they diminish as more dominant reactivity mechanisms are added to the model. Potential improvements to the neutronics model include: adding the differential control rod and sodium feedback mechanisms, implementing cross section re-homogenization based on the partial volume of the various materials, and enhancing the kinetics parameters. Furthermore, the fluids model only includes four subchannels to represent the entire active core due to performance limitations in SAM when attempting to model one subchannel per assembly.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

SAS4A/SASSYS-1 Lead Verification Test Suite

SAS4A/SASSYS-1 is a simulation tool used to perform deterministic analyses of anticipated events as well as design basis and beyond design basis accidents for advanced liquid-metal-cooled nuclear reactors. With its origin as SAS1A in the late 1960s, the SAS series of codes has been under continuous use and development for over forty-five years and represents a critical investment in safety analysis capabilities for the U.S. Department of Energy. Although SAS4A/SASSYS-1 was developed to support the analysis of any liquid-metal-cooled nuclear reactor, it has primarily been utilized to design and analyze Sodium Fast Reactors (SFRs). As a result, most of the verification basis for SAS4A/SASSYS-1 utilizes sodium as a coolant and geometry descriptions that are typical of a SFR facility. In this work, new verification problems are defined to extend the applicability of the SAS4A/SASSYS-1 verification basis into Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) design space. A review of the existing SAS4A/SASSYS-1 SFR verification test suite is performed to determine the number of test cases that are SFR specific. SFR specific test cases are replicated using lead as a coolant and system layouts that are representative of LFRs. This report provides definitions and reference solutions for seven new test cases that scope lead-specific features and capabilities of the software. For a verification test to be considered acceptable, comparisons of analytical solutions to SAS4A/SASSYS-1 predictions must produce negligible or justifiable errors. All LFR specific test cases are found to be acceptable.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Implications of Plutonium isotopic separation on closed fuel cycles and repository design

Advances in laser enrichment may enable relatively low-cost plutonium isotopic separation. This would have large impacts on LWR closed fuel cycles and waste management. If Pu-240 is removed before recycling plutonium as mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, it would dramatically reduce the buildup of higher plutonium isotopes, Americium, and Curium. Pu-240 is a fertile material and thus can be replaced by U-238. Eliminating the higher plutonium isotopes in MOX fuel increases the Doppler feedback, simplifies reactor control, and allows infinite recycle of MOX plutonium in LWRs. Eliminating fertile Pu-240 and Pu-242 reduces the plutonium content in MOX fuel and simplifies fabrication. Reducing production of Pu-241 reduces production of Am-241 - the primary heat generator in spent nuclear fuels after several decades. Reducing heat generating Am-241 would reduce repository cost and waste toxicity. Avoiding Am- 241 avoids its decay product Np-237, a nuclide that partly controls long-term oxidizing repository performance. Most of these benefits also apply to LWR plutonium recycled into fast reactors. There are benefits for plutonium isotopic separation in fast reactor fuel cycles (particularly removal of Pu-242) but the benefits are less. (author)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Qualification of System-Level Advanced Reactor Safety Analysis Software for Lead Systems: Final CRADA Report

SAS4A/SASSYS-1 is a simulation tool used to perform deterministic analysis of anticipated events as well as design basis and beyond design basis accidents for advanced liquid-metal-cooled nuclear reactors. With its origin as SAS1A in the late 1960s, the SAS series of codes has been under continuous use and development for over forty-five years and represents a critical investment in safety analysis capabilities for the U.S. Department of Energy. Although SAS4A/SASSYS-1 was developed to support the analysis of any liquid-metal-cooled nuclear reactor, it has primarily been utilized to design and analyze Sodium Fast Reactors (SFRs). As a result, most of the qualification basis for SAS4A/SASSYS-1 has utilized sodium as a coolant and geometry descriptions that are prototypic of SFR configurations. In this project, which partnered with Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC, the initial foundation for a qualification basis centered on prototypic pool-type lead-cooled systems has been established, where the end goal is to extend support for utilization of SAS4A/SASSYS-1 in Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) licensing or authorization. This project included three fundamental technical tasks: LFR V&V test suite development (Task 1); qualification support for LFRs (Task 2); and LFR modeling capabilities evaluation and improvement (Task 3)

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

An assessment of the effect on Olkiluoto repository capacity achievable with advanced fuel cycles

Previously a few scenarios have been simulated for transition from thermal to fast reactor fleet in Finland in order to determine how much the transuranic inventory could be reduced with the partitioning and transmutation (P-T) technologies. Those calculations, performed with COSI6 code developed by CEA, are extended in the present study, in which the effect of P-T on the capacity of the planned final disposal repository at Olkiluoto (Finland) is evaluated by taking into account the created fission products and transuranic residuals from the reprocessing operations. The decay heat is assumed to be the most restrictive factor in defining the waste disposal packing density. The repository capacity evaluation of this study is based on the comparison of the decay heats produced by the deposited waste in various scenarios. The reference scenario of this article involves only Light Water Reactors (LWR) in an open fuel cycle. The capacity requirement of the geological repository is estimated in a few closed fuel cycle scenarios, all including actinide transmutation with Fast Reactors (FR). The comparison between the P-T scenarios and reference is based on the decay heat production of the deposited waste. The COSI6 code is used for simulations to provide the repository decay heat curves. Applying the closed fuel cycle would change the disposal concept and schedule, because of which it is not quite straightforward to assess the impact of P-T on the capacity. However, it can be concluded that recycling the transuranic nuclides probably decreases the required volume for the disposal, but thermal dimensioning analysis is needed for more specific conclusions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Deep Learning for Multigroup Cross-Section Representation in Two-Step Core Calculations

Here we investigate using deep learning, a type of machine-learning algorithm employing multiple layers of artificial neurons, for the mathematical representation of multigroup cross sections for use in the Griffin reactor multiphysics code for two-step deterministic neutronics calculations. A three-dimensional fuel element typical of a high-temperature gas reactor as well as a two-dimensional sodium-cooled fast reactor lattice are modeled using the Serpent Monte Carlo code, and multigroup macroscopic cross sections are generated for various state parameters to produce a training data set and a separate validation data set. A fully connected, feedforward neural network is trained using the open-source PyTorch machine-learning framework, and its accuracy is compared against the standard piecewise linear interpolation model. Additionally, we provide in this work a generic technique for propagating the cross-section model errors up to the k eff using sensitivity coefficients with the first-order uncertainty propagation rule. Quantifying the eigenvalue error due to the cross-section regression errors is especially practical for appropriately selecting the mathematical representation of the cross sections. We demonstrate that the artificial neural network model produces lower errors and therefore enables better accuracy relative to the piecewise linear model when the cross sections exhibit nonlinear dependencies; especially when a coarse grid is employed, where the errors can be halved by the artificial neural network. However, for linearly dependent multigroup cross sections as found for the sodium-cooled fast reactor case, a simpler linear regression outperforms deeper networks.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Transition to a Thorium-based Fuel Cycle - Choices, Challenges, and Options

The Charter for the Evaluation and Screening (E and S) of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Options requested by the US Department of Energy calls for the identification of promising fuel cycle options to help guide the future directions of research and development in this area. The final report for this study, which was produced by various national laboratory and industry experts, collected the expansive set of fuel cycle options into 40 evaluation groups (EGs). In support of this study, detailed steady-state physics and mass flow data for each of these groups were compiled into a set of Fuel Cycle Data Packages (FCDPs). The data in the FCDPs were then used to quantify the nine criteria detailed in the study to identify the most promising EGs. In addition to supporting the E and S study, data from these FCDPs can be used to benchmark fuel cycle simulation tools for equilibrium calculations. Once benchmarked, their dynamic modeling capabilities can support the continuing effort to determine the most effective approaches for transitioning to proposed advanced future fuel cycles. While steady-state conditions can be calculated directly in some cases, fuel cycle simulation tools allow for the transition scenarios to be simultaneously optimized on multiple parameters such as the fissile material availability, the amount of desirable material in storage, and the time required for transition. In addition to fuel cycle simulations where material availability is considered and is often a constraint to achieving transition, determining the technology needs to enable a transition to take place is also a key consideration (e.g., what technology is needed, when it is needed, and whether it is needed only during the transition and not for the equilibrium fuel cycle). This paper evaluates the material and technology issues and challenges associated with a transition from a uranium-based fuel cycle (such as that operating in the US today, represented by EG01) to a thorium-based fuel cycle, recognizing that thorium requires fissile material to start up. Based on the findings of the E and S report, the two most promising thorium fuel cycle options are considered in this report: (1) EG26, a thermal spectrum molten salt reactor (MSR), and (2) EG28, represented by a sodium fast reactor (SFR, fast spectrum) and a resource-renewable boiling water reactor (RBWR, intermediate spectrum). (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Load following capability of CANDLE reactor by adjusting coolant operation condition

The load following capability of CANDLE reactor is investigated in the condition that the control rods are unavailable. Both sodium cooled metallic fuel fast reactor (SFR) and {sup 208}Pb cooled metallic fuel fast reactor (LFR) are investigated for their performance in power rate changing by changing its coolant operation condition; either coolant flow rate or coolant inlet temperature. The change by coolant flow rate is difficult especially for SFR because the maximum temperature criteria on cladding material may be violated. The power rate can be changed for its full range easily by changing the coolant temperature at the core inlet. LFR can reduce the same amount of power rate by smaller change of temperature than SFR. However, the coolant output temperature is generally decreased for this method and the thermal efficiency becomes worse.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Characteristics of TRU Fueled SFR Core during the Transition with Partially Loaded LEU Assemblies

The fast reactor (FR) fuels typically require higher fissile content than the thermal reactor fuels because the cross sections of the fissile isotopes are smaller relative to the fertile isotopes and higher neutron leakage from the reactor core. The medium-sized high-burnup sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) in the framework of uranium-plutonium/transuranic (U/Pu or U/TRU) fuel-cycle can be optimized to operate with less than 17 % of Pu/TRU content in the driver fuel while having higher TRU conversion ratios (CR~1.0) [1]. However, possible shortage or inaccessibility to TRU based fuel could be accommodated by the use of uranium-based fuels on demand such as low enriched uranium (LEU) having significantly higher 235U content than used in the commercial light water reactors (LWRs), which is defined as high-assay LEU. The reactor systems having low TRU conversion ratio are commonly categorized as burner reactors, which include LWRs and even can be achieved by FRs with designed to utilize higher TRU fractions (e.g., increased neutron leakage and lower fuel volume fractions). Such reactor systems need to be initially loaded with high excess reactivity, which decreases toward the end of cycle, in order to achieve target burnup conditions. Therefore, in order to offset the excess reactivity, neutron absorbing materials need to be inserted into the core to compensate (e.g., control rods). By reducing the neutron leakage (e.g., increasing the fuel volume fraction or thicker blankets), the TRU conversion ratio in the FR can be increased. If the TRU conversion ratio becomes 1.0 (technically slightly greater than 1.0 to account for process losses during recycle), the reactor is in the condition known as “breakeven”, in which fuel contains the same amount of fissile material after recycling that was used to fuel the reactor. In such a condition, combined with the fact that fission products do not have strong poisoning effects in FRs, the reactivity swing becomes smaller than that of burner type reactors. For breeders, the reactivity can increase toward the end of the cycle because more fissile material is produced than consumed. In this regard, the breakeven FR core is implicitly optimized in a sense by eliminating the large insertion of control elements to offset the reactivity during the normal operation. However, the breakeven condition here is assumed to be achieved only by the TRU based fuel. Possible lack of TRU based fuel needs to be compensated by available LEU resources containing equivalent amount of fissile (i.e., 235U). The use of LEU will have some impact on important safety parameters that need to be evaluated. U-235 has a higher effective delayed neutron fraction than Pu-239. Also, the number of neutrons produced by fissions per neutron absorption (i.e. ?) of 235U in the fast energy range (>1e4 eV) is lower than that of 239Pu, which may lead to the poor fissile conversion when LEU is used as a high-conversion FR fuel. The full-paper presents the study of the impact of partially loaded LEU fuels within TRU fueled breakeven SFR on the transition of nuclide evolutions and core characteristics particularly focusing on the burnup reactivity swing. The full paper analyzes how the large reactivity swing occurs during the LEU loading and addresses possible options to reduce it to the level equivalent to that of the TRU fueled SFR core.

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DOE OSTI1991

Nuclear Safety [Vol. 32, No. 1, January-March 1991]

Nuclear Safety is a review journal that covers significant developments in the field of nuclear safety. Its scope includes the analysis and control of hazards associated with nuclear energy, operations involving fissionable materials, and the products of nuclear fission and their effects on the environment. Primary emphasis is on safety in reactor design, construction, and operation; however, the safety aspects of the entire fuel cycle, including fuel fabrication, spent-fuel processing, nuclear waste disposal, handling of radioisotopes, and environmental effects of these operations, are also treated. Table of Contents for this issue follows. GENERAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: 1 The Safety Review and Approval Process for Space Nuclear Power Sources, G. L. Bennett; 19 Report on the American Nuclear Society International Topical Meeting: "The Safety, Status, and Future of Non-Commercial Reactors and Irradiation Facilities", E. G. Silver; 35 Book Review: Fission Product Transport Processes in Reactor Accidents, Proceedings to the International Centre tor Heat and Mass Processes T. S. Kress; 38 Fast Reactor Technology in the 1990s: A Summary of the 1990 International Fast Reactor Safety Meeting, A. E. Levin; ACCIDENT ANALYSIS: 56 Effects of Chemical Phenomena on LWR Severe Accident Fission Product Behavior, A. P. Malinauskas and T. S. Kress; CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION: 65 Technical Note: Safety Parameter Display Systems—10 Years Later, R. J. Eckenrode; 68 Potential Application of Neural Networks to the Operation of Nuclear Power Plants, R. E. Uhrig; DESIGN FEATURES: 80 Twenty-First DOE/NRC Nuclear Air-Cleaning Conference, R. R. Bellamy, D. W. Moeller, and M. W. First; 91 Impact of an Apparent Radiation Embrittlement Rate on the Life Expectancy of PWR Vessel Supports, R. D. Cheverton, G. C. Robinson, W. E. Pennell, and R. K. Nanstad; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: 103 Technical Note: The Impact of Offsite Factors on the Safety Performance of Small Nuclear Power Plants, Yu. D. Baranaev and A. N. Viktorov; WASTE AND SPENT FUEL MANAGEMENT: 109 Activities Related to Waste Management, Compiled by E. G. Silver; OPERATING EXPERIENCES: 118 Reactor Shutdown Experience, Compiled by J. W. Cletcher; 121 Selected Safety-Related Events, Compiled by G. A. Murphy; 123 Operating U.S. Power Reactors, Compiled by E. G. Silver; RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: 140 General Administrative Activities, Compiled by E. G. Silver; 150 Reports, Standards, and Safety Guides, D. S. Queener; 155 Status of Power-Reactor Licensing Activities, Compiled by E. G. Silver; 157 Proposed Rule Changes as of Sept. 30, 1990; ANNOUNCEMENTS: 79 MIT Offers Summer Program on Nuclear Power Reactor Safety; 108 Harvard School of Public Health Offers Several Short Courses; 139 Short Course and Workshop on Nuclear Criticality Safety at University of New Mexico; 160 SCK/CEN Announces Training Course on Emergency Planning and Response; 161 The Authors; 164 Indexes to Nuclear Safety, Volume 31

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