A comparative study of Monte Carlo-coupled depletion codes applied to a Sodium Fast Reactor design loaded with minor actinides

Ochoa Valero, Raquel and Vázquez Antolín, Miriam and Álvarez Velarde, F. and Martín Fuertes, Francisco and García Herranz, Nuria and Cuervo Gómez, Diana (2013). A comparative study of Monte Carlo-coupled depletion codes applied to a Sodium Fast Reactor design loaded with minor actinides. "Annals of Nuclear Energy", v. 57 ; pp. 32-40. ISSN 0306-4549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2013.01.039.

Description

Title: A comparative study of Monte Carlo-coupled depletion codes applied to a Sodium Fast Reactor design loaded with minor actinides
Author/s:
  • Ochoa Valero, Raquel
  • Vázquez Antolín, Miriam
  • Álvarez Velarde, F.
  • Martín Fuertes, Francisco
  • García Herranz, Nuria
  • Cuervo Gómez, Diana
Item Type: Article
Título de Revista/Publicación: Annals of Nuclear Energy
Date: July 2013
ISSN: 0306-4549
Volume: 57
Subjects:
Freetext Keywords: Sodium Fast Reactors; Minor actinide loading; Homogeneous recycle; Heterogeneous recycle; Reactivity coefficients; Monte Carlo-depletion codes
Faculty: E.T.S.I. Industriales (UPM)
Department: Ingeniería Nuclear [hasta 2014]
Creative Commons Licenses: Recognition - No derivative works - Non commercial

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Abstract

inor actinides (MAs) transmutation is a main design objective of advanced nuclear systems such as generation IV Sodium Fast Reactors (SFRs). In advanced fuel cycles, MA contents in final high level waste packages are main contributors to short term heat production as well as to long-term radiotoxicity. Therefore, MA transmutation would have an impact on repository designs and would reduce the environment burden of nuclear energy. In order to predict such consequences Monte Carlo (MC) transport codes are used in reactor design tasks and they are important complements and references for routinely used deterministic computational tools. In this paper two promising Monte Carlo transport-coupled depletion codes, EVOLCODE and SERPENT, are used to examine the impact of MA burning strategies in a SFR core, 3600 MWth. The core concept proposal for MA loading in two configurations is the result of an optimization effort upon a preliminary reference design to reduce the reactivity insertion as a consequence of sodium voiding, one of the main concerns of this technology. The objective of this paper is double. Firstly, efficiencies of the two core configurations for MA transmutation are addressed and evaluated in terms of actinides mass changes and reactivity coefficients. Results are compared with those without MA loading. Secondly, a comparison of the two codes is provided. The discrepancies in the results are quantified and discussed.

More information

Item ID: 21563
DC Identifier: https://oa.upm.es/21563/
OAI Identifier: oai:oa.upm.es:21563
DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2013.01.039
Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...
Deposited by: Memoria Investigacion
Deposited on: 19 Mar 2014 19:31
Last Modified: 21 Apr 2016 12:13
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