Three-dimensional modellings for the VENUS-2 mox core

Byung Chan Na, Nadia Messaoudi, Gyu Hong Roh

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Based on the VENUS-2 experimental results released by SCK•CEN, Mol, Belgium, the OECD/NEA launched a two-dimensional VENUS-2 MOX core benchmark in 1999. This was the first experiment-based benchmark and was completed in 2000. Overall, the results were very encouraging and confirmed that present methods using the latest nuclear data sets can adequately calculate MOX-fuelled systems. However, the calculation overestimated fission rates of MOX pins and slightly underestimated those of UO2 pins. This was reflected in all combinations of computer codes and data. Therefore, a three-dimensional VENUS-2 MOX core benchmark was launched in 2001 for a more thorough investigation into the calculation methods used for MOX-fuelled systems. This paper presents the summary of results obtained from the Monte Carlo code MCNP-4B and the deterministic code TORT calculations. Three different nuclear data sets, namely ENDF/B-VI, JENDL-3.2 and JEF-2.2 are mainly investigated. The calculated multiplication factors keff and axial pin power distributions using combinations of different data and methods are compared with the experimental results. The results obtained with different numbers of particle histories and different libraries used in MCNP-4B calculations are analysed and a comparison between the MCNP-4B and the deterministic TORT calculations is also presented. The results show that all combinations of calculation methods and nuclear data can adequately calculate the VENUS-2 MOX core in 3-D geometry, producing reasonably accurate axial pin power distributions.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the PHYSOR 2002 - International Conference on the New Frontiers of Nuclear Technology
    Subtitle of host publicationReactor Physics, Safety and High-Performance Computing - The ANS 2002 RPD Topical Meeting
    PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
    ISBN (Electronic)0894486721, 9780894486722
    StatePublished - 2002
    Event2002 International Conference on the New Frontiers of Nuclear Technology : Reactor Physics, Safety and High-Performance Computing, PHYSOR 2002 - Seoul
    Duration: 7 Oct 200210 Oct 2002

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of the PHYSOR 2002 - International Conference on the New Frontiers of Nuclear Technology : Reactor Physics, Safety and High-Performance Computing - The ANS 2002 RPD Topical Meeting

    Conference

    Conference2002 International Conference on the New Frontiers of Nuclear Technology : Reactor Physics, Safety and High-Performance Computing, PHYSOR 2002
    Country/TerritoryKorea, Republic of
    CitySeoul
    Period2002-10-072002-10-10

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
    • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
    • Radiation
    • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

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