Methods and Models for the Coupled Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis of the CROCUS Reactor at EFPL

In order to analyze the steady state and transient behavior of the CROCUS reactor, several methods and models need to be developed in the areas of reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, and multiphysics coupling. The long-term objectives of this project are to work towards the development of a modern...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: A. Rais, D. Siefman, G. Girardin, M. Hursin, A. Pautz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/237646
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849686972114665472
author A. Rais
D. Siefman
G. Girardin
M. Hursin
A. Pautz
author_facet A. Rais
D. Siefman
G. Girardin
M. Hursin
A. Pautz
author_sort A. Rais
collection DOAJ
description In order to analyze the steady state and transient behavior of the CROCUS reactor, several methods and models need to be developed in the areas of reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, and multiphysics coupling. The long-term objectives of this project are to work towards the development of a modern method for the safety analysis of research reactors and to update the Final Safety Analysis Report of the CROCUS reactor. A first part of the paper deals with generation of a core simulator nuclear data library for the CROCUS reactor using the Serpent 2 Monte Carlo code and also with reactor core modeling using the PARCS code. PARCS eigenvalue, radial power distribution, and control rod reactivity worth results were benchmarked against Serpent 2 full-core model results. Using the Serpent 2 model as reference, PARCS eigenvalue predictions were within 240 pcm, radial power was within 3% in the central region of the core, and control rod reactivity worth was within 2%. A second part reviews the current methodology used for the safety analysis of the CROCUS reactor and presents the envisioned approach for the multiphysics modeling of the reactor.
format Article
id doaj-art-01c9aef8f61148d7933af2b503180d3f
institution DOAJ
issn 1687-6075
1687-6083
language English
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
spelling doaj-art-01c9aef8f61148d7933af2b503180d3f2025-08-20T03:22:30ZengWileyScience and Technology of Nuclear Installations1687-60751687-60832015-01-01201510.1155/2015/237646237646Methods and Models for the Coupled Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis of the CROCUS Reactor at EFPLA. Rais0D. Siefman1G. Girardin2M. Hursin3A. Pautz4École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandPaul Scherrer Institut (PSI), 5232 Villigen, SwitzerlandÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, SwitzerlandIn order to analyze the steady state and transient behavior of the CROCUS reactor, several methods and models need to be developed in the areas of reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, and multiphysics coupling. The long-term objectives of this project are to work towards the development of a modern method for the safety analysis of research reactors and to update the Final Safety Analysis Report of the CROCUS reactor. A first part of the paper deals with generation of a core simulator nuclear data library for the CROCUS reactor using the Serpent 2 Monte Carlo code and also with reactor core modeling using the PARCS code. PARCS eigenvalue, radial power distribution, and control rod reactivity worth results were benchmarked against Serpent 2 full-core model results. Using the Serpent 2 model as reference, PARCS eigenvalue predictions were within 240 pcm, radial power was within 3% in the central region of the core, and control rod reactivity worth was within 2%. A second part reviews the current methodology used for the safety analysis of the CROCUS reactor and presents the envisioned approach for the multiphysics modeling of the reactor.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/237646
spellingShingle A. Rais
D. Siefman
G. Girardin
M. Hursin
A. Pautz
Methods and Models for the Coupled Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis of the CROCUS Reactor at EFPL
Science and Technology of Nuclear Installations
title Methods and Models for the Coupled Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis of the CROCUS Reactor at EFPL
title_full Methods and Models for the Coupled Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis of the CROCUS Reactor at EFPL
title_fullStr Methods and Models for the Coupled Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis of the CROCUS Reactor at EFPL
title_full_unstemmed Methods and Models for the Coupled Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis of the CROCUS Reactor at EFPL
title_short Methods and Models for the Coupled Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis of the CROCUS Reactor at EFPL
title_sort methods and models for the coupled neutronics and thermal hydraulics analysis of the crocus reactor at efpl
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/237646
work_keys_str_mv AT arais methodsandmodelsforthecoupledneutronicsandthermalhydraulicsanalysisofthecrocusreactoratefpl
AT dsiefman methodsandmodelsforthecoupledneutronicsandthermalhydraulicsanalysisofthecrocusreactoratefpl
AT ggirardin methodsandmodelsforthecoupledneutronicsandthermalhydraulicsanalysisofthecrocusreactoratefpl
AT mhursin methodsandmodelsforthecoupledneutronicsandthermalhydraulicsanalysisofthecrocusreactoratefpl
AT apautz methodsandmodelsforthecoupledneutronicsandthermalhydraulicsanalysisofthecrocusreactoratefpl