Fuel Depletion

N ~ 10 cm , φ ~ 10 cm s
22 −3 14 −2 −1
Time scale:
Days and months.
• More depletion X change steady state flux by means
of reducing absorbers. r
∂N f (r , t ) r r
• For a g
given fuel isotope
p = − N f (r , t )σ a φ (r , t )
f

∂t
• For constant flux φ0 the solution is Exponential burnup
r r r
−σ af φ0 ( r ) t r r
−σ af Φ ( r ,t )
N f ( r , t ) = N f ( r ,0 ) e = N f ( r ,0 ) e
• For time varying flux t Neutron fluence
r
r r −σ af ∫ φ ( r ,t \ ) dt \
r r
−σ af Φ ( r ,t )
N f ( r , t ) = N f ( r ,0 ) e 0
= N f (r ,0)e
Solve numerically.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 1
(Saed Dababneh).
 Fuel Depletion
• Constant
C power.
r L r Kr
r r
N f (r , t )σ φ (r , t ) = P (r ,0) = P0 (r )
P (r , t ) = wN f
f
r r r r
N f (r , t )φ (r , t ) = N f (r ,0)φ (r ,0)
Energy r r r r
released per
Fission rate ∑ f (r , t )φ (r , t ) = ∑ f (r ,0)φ (r ,0)
fission
• Power ~ flux only over short time periods during which Nf is constant
constant.
r r
∂N f (r , t ) r r P0 (r ) Linear
= − N f (r , t )σ a φ (r , t ) ≈ −
f

∂t w depletion!
• The solution is obviously
L K
r
r r P0 (r ) σ ≈σf f

N f (r , t ) ≈ N f (r ,0) −
f a
t
w
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 2
(Saed Dababneh).
 Fuel Depletion

HW 31

Do the
calculations
l l ti
for different
flux and
power
levels.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 3

(Saed Dababneh).
 Poisoning and Fuel Depletion
Infinite critical homogeneous reactor.
Infinite, reactor
L
∑ af ((t )
k∞ = εηfρ = εηρ f
∑ a (t ) + ∑ clad
a + ∑ mod erator
a (t ) + ∑ poison
a (t ) + ∑ control
a (t )
L K
r thus L
r r P0 (r )
Constant power N f (r , t ) ≈ N f (r ,0) − t
w
r r r r r
r
φ (r , t ) =
N f (r ,0) r
r φ (r ,0) =
φ (r ,0)
r = N f (r ,0) − N f (r , t )σ a φ (r , t )t
f

N f (r , t ) 1 − σ a φ (r ,0)t
f
r r r
= N f (r ,0) − N f (r ,0)σ a φ ( r ,0)t
f

r
[ r
= N f (r ,0) 1 − σ a φ (r ,0)t
f
]
f r f r
[ r
∑ a (r , t ) = ∑ a (r ,0) 1 − σ a φ (r ,0)t
f
]
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 4
(Saed Dababneh).
 Poisoning and Fuel Depletion
X ∞
Xe
Constant
(γ I + γ Xe ) ∑ f φ0 − ( λ Xe +σ aXeφ0 ) t
Xe(t ) = (1 − e )
λ Xe + σ φ Xe
X
a 0

γ I ∑ f φ0 −( λ Xe +σ a φ0 ) t
− e − λI t )
Xe
+ ( e
λ Xe − λI + σ aXeφ0 Constant
r r
Xe r r (γ I + γ Xe
X ) ∑ f ( r ,0)φ ( r ,0)
∑ a (r , t ) = σ a Xe∞ (r , t ) =
Xe
λ Xe r
+ φ (r , t )
Xe
σa
Sm r r r r
φ ( r ,0 )
∑ a (r , t ) ≈ σ a γ Sm ∑ f (r ,0)φ (r ,0)t
Sm r
φ (r , t ) = r
1 − σ af φ ( r ,0)t

• Other fission products (poisons) with less capture cross sections.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 5
(Saed Dababneh).
 Poisoning and Fuel Depletion
• Now we know all macroscopic cross sections.
L
∑ af ((tt )
k∞ = εηfρ = εηρ f
∑ a (t ) + ∑ clad
a + ∑ mod erator
a (t ) + ∑ poison
a (t ) + ∑ control
a (t )
L K
• When there are no absorbers left to
remove, we need to refuel. Until = 0.
• Absorbers are not only control rods. Solve for t to get
• All fuel nuclei should be considered. upper limit for
• For each species,
species all sources and “core
core loading
lifetime”.
sinks should be taken into account.
Damaged
• Online loading f environmental. f l !
fuel…!
• 3H.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 6
(Saed Dababneh).
 Poisoning and Fuel Depletion

dN A
= −λ A N A − φσ A N A + λB N B + φσ γ N C + F (t )
C

dt
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009
Fuel loading 7
(Saed Dababneh).
 Poisoning and Fuel Depletion
• Some poisons are intentionally introduced into
the reactor.
• Fixed burnable poisons.
B, Gd.
More uniform distribution than rods, more
intentionally localized than shim.
• Soluble poisons (chemical shim) with caution.
B i acid
Boric id (soluble
( l bl b boron, solbor)
lb ) iin coolant.
l t
Boration and dilution.
Scram emergency shutdown (sodium polyborate or
gadolinium nitrate).
• Non-burnable p poisons.
Chain of absorbers or self shielding.
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 8
(Saed Dababneh).
 Delayed Precursors

1 ∂ r G
r r G
r r
φ g ( r , t ) = χ g ∑ ν g \ ∑ fg \ ( r )φ g \ ( r , t ) + ∑ ∑ sg \ g ( r )φ g \ ( r , t ) + S gext
v g ∂t g \ =1 g \ =1
r r r r r r r r
− ∑ ag ( r )φ g ( r , t ) − ∑ sg ( r )φ g ( r , t ) + ∇ • D g ( r ) ∇ φ g ( r , t )
• For one-group
1 ∂ r r r
φ ( r , t ) = ν ∑ f ( r )φ ( r , t ) + S ext
v ∂t
r r r r r r
− ∑ a ( r )φ ( r , t ) + ∇ • D ( r ) ∇ φ ( r , t )
• What about delayed neutrons?
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 9
(Saed Dababneh).
 Delayed
Delayed
neutron
Precursors
emitter
ν = ν p +ν d
One of 66
νd
Delayed neutron fraction β =
delayed

ν
neutron
precursors
known so far.

Data for all

precursors are
not accurately
known.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 10

(Saed Dababneh).
 Delayed Precursors
Fissile nucleus Delayed neutron / 100 fissions
233U 0.667
235U Increases
1.621
238U* with N.
4.39
239Pu 0.628
240Pu* 0.95
241Pu 1 52
1.52
242Pu* 2.21
Data
D t ffor th
thermall neutron
t induced
i d d fission,
fi i exceptt for
f
* fast neutron induced fission.

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 11

(Saed Dababneh).
 Delayed Precursors
(s)

235U
νp β < 0.7% = 0.016 / ν
1 ∂ r r r 6
φ ( r , t ) = (1 − β )ν ∑ f ( r )φ ( r , t ) + ∑ λ i C i + S ext
v ∂t i =1
r r r r r r
− ∑ a ( r )φ ( r , t ) + ∇ • D ( r ) ∇ φ ( r , t )
r
∂C i (r , t ) r r r
= − λ i C i ( r , t ) + β iν ∑ f ( r )φ ( r , t )
∂t
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 12
(Saed Dababneh).
 Delayed Precursors
• The multi-group equation now becomes
Different energy spectra

1 ∂ r G
r r 6
r
φ g ( r , t ) = χ gp (1 − β ) ∑ ν g \ ∑ ( r )φ ( r , t ) + χ g ∑
C
λ C ( r ,t)
v g ∂t fg \ g\ i i
g \ =1 i =1
G
r r
+ ∑ ∑ sg \ g ( r )φ g \ ( r , t ) + S gext
g \ =1
r r r r r r r r
− ∑ ag ( r )φ g ( r , t ) − ∑ sg ( r )φ g ( r , t ) + ∇ • D g ( r ) ∇ φ g ( r , t )
r
∂C i (r , t ) r G
r r
= − λiC i (r , t ) + β i ∑ ν g \ ∑ ( r )φ g \ ( r , t )
∂t g \ =1
fg \

Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 13

(Saed Dababneh).
 Delayed Precursors
• In steady state
r G
r r
λiC i (r , t ) = β i ∑ ν g \ ∑ fg \
( r )φ g \ ( r , t )
g \ =1
G
r r G
r r
0 = χ (1 − β ) ∑ ν g \
p
g ∑ fg \ ( r )φ g \ ( r ) + χ gC β ∑ν g\
∑ fg \ ( r )φ g \ ( r )
g \ =1 g \ =1
G
r r r r r r r r r r
+ ∑ ∑ sg \ g ( r )φ g \ ( r ) + S g − ∑ ag ( r )φ g ( r ) − ∑ sg ( r )φ g ( r ) + ∇ • D g ( r ) ∇ φ g ( r )
ext

g \ =1

Significance of χ [ ]∑ ν r r
C G

ggg
g 0= χ p
g + (χ C
g − χ )βp
g g\
∑ fg \
( r )φ g\
( r )
g \ =1
depends
d d on whether
h th G
r r r r
we have fine or + ∑ ∑ sg g ( r )φ g ( r ) + S g − ∑ ag ( r )φ g ( r )
ext
\ \

groups. g =1 r
\
course energy groups r r r r r
− ∑ sg ( r )φ g ( r ) + ∇ • D g ( r ) ∇ φ g ( r )
Nuclear Reactors, BAU, 1st Semester, 2008-2009 14
(Saed Dababneh).