Keff and ks burn-up swing compensation in MYRRHA

Wim Haeck, Hamid Aït Abderrahim, C. Wagemans, Edouard Malambu Mbala

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Burn up for the reference core of MYRRHA over a single cycle of 90 days has been estimated with MCNPX and א SPECTRUM (an MCNPX postprocessor developed at SCK•CEN). Over this cycle, the source multiplication factor ks drops from 0.952 to 0.941 (delta rho s = 1263 pcm) while the effective multiplication factor keff drops from 0.946 to 0.933 (delta rho = 1484 pcm). A number of possible techniques have already been proposed and studied to minimize this burn up swing such as proton current variation, use of burnable poisons, use of negative void coefficient and multi-batch core operation. We propose the concept of a realistic operational cycle in which voided boxes and/or burnable absorber (with different levels of enrichment) are used to minimize the burn up swing in the MYRRHA case. In this paper, we also make an initial assessment of the applicability of these operational cycles to the MYRRHA case.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationWorkshop Proceedings Utilisation and reliability of high power proton accelerators
    Place of PublicationParis, France
    Pages495-504
    StatePublished - 26 Oct 2005
    EventHPP A4 workshop 2004: Utilisation and Reliability of High Power Proton Accelerators - OECD/NEA, KAERI, Daejeon
    Duration: 16 May 200419 May 2004

    Conference

    ConferenceHPP A4 workshop 2004: Utilisation and Reliability of High Power Proton Accelerators
    Country/TerritoryKorea, Democratic People's Republic of
    CityKAERI, Daejeon
    Period2004-05-162004-05-19

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