Scribd
Upload
58 views

22.05 Reactor Physics - Part Twenty-Two: Application of The Two-Group Equations

The two-group diffusion theory allows for separate calculation of the fast and thermal neutron fluxes, which has important implications for reflected reactors. The thermal flux peaks in the reflector region due to scattering of fast neutrons, forming "thermal ears". This flattens the thermal flux in the core, improving uniform fuel burnup. Flux shape changes from control rod insertion also impact power distribution, fuel burnup rates, and make power monitoring more difficult compared to a homogeneous reactor model. Detector calibration and calorimetric measurements help address these issues.

Uploaded by

msakowsk
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
58 views

22.05 Reactor Physics - Part Twenty-Two: Application of The Two-Group Equations

The two-group diffusion theory allows for separate calculation of the fast and thermal neutron fluxes, which has important implications for reflected reactors. The thermal flux peaks in the reflector region due to scattering of fast neutrons, forming "thermal ears". This flattens the thermal flux in the core, improving uniform fuel burnup. Flux shape changes from control rod insertion also impact power distribution, fuel burnup rates, and make power monitoring more difficult compared to a homogeneous reactor model. Detector calibration and calorimetric measurements help address these issues.

Uploaded by

msakowsk
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

22.

05 Reactor Physics - Part Twenty-Two

Application of the Two-Group Equations

1. Reflected Reactors:

One-group theory (or the one-velocity model depending on how it is called) was
useful for analyzing bare cores. Two-group theory is useful for analyzing
reflected cores because it allows separate calculations of the spatial shape of the
fast and thermal fluxes. The figure below shows the results of one such
calculation. Also, shown for purposes of comparison, is the thermal flux that
would have existed if the core had been bare.

Fast Flux

Neutron Core Reflector


Flux

Thermal
Flux
Thermal Flux Bare
Reactor

Distance from Center of Reactor


Fast and Thermal Fluxes in a Reflected Thermal Reactor and the
Thermal Flux in an Unreflected Reactor

The following should be noted:

1. The shape of the fast flux is that of a cosine as is predicted from one-group
theory.

1
2. The shape of the thermal flux in the bare reactor is the same as that of the
fast flux. Again, this is as would be expected from one-group theory for a
bare core.

3. The magnitude of the thermal flux in the bare reactor is less than that of
the fast flux. This is also to be expected because the fuel has a higher
cross-section for thermal neutron absorption and hence it depresses the
thermal flux.

The observation that is perhaps unexpected is the next one. The two-group
calculation of the actual thermal flux shows that it (the thermal flux) has a very
different shape then that of its fast counterpart. It rises near the core-reflector
boundary and peaks in the reflector. The shape of the peak is often called a
“thermal ear” (evidently because the overall drawing of the flux looks like a head
with two ears?) This peak occurs because fast neutrons leak from the core region
to the reflector. The reflector consists of a medium, such as D2O or graphite, that
has a high scatter cross-section and a low absorption one. So, the fast neutrons
thermalize in the reflector and scatter without significant absorption. So, they
peak. Eventually, they leak back, as thermal neutrons, into the core.

A related consequence of these “thermal ears” is that the thermal flux is much
flatter than the fast flux. This is important for fuel burnup, which occurs mainly
as a result of thermal fissions. For economic reasons, one needs the fuel to
deplete at a uniform rate throughout the core. Otherwise, some fuel would reach
the peak burnup well before the core as a whole and this would necessitate a
premature outage.

2. Reflector Savings:

The presence of a reflector decreases the critical dimensions of a reactor. The


difference in the dimensions is called the “reflector savings.”

3. Flux Shape Effects:

Accurate knowledge of the flux shape, in all directions, in a reactor is essential to


safe operation. The attached figure illustrates one of the problems. Shown is the
axial flux for three cases: homogeneous one-velocity calculation; control rod
inserted; and control rod withdrawn. In all cases, the reactor is critical and the
power is the same. The latter requirement means that the area under each curve
has to be the same.

2
a) Case One – Flux is cosine shaped as is predicted from theory for a
homogenous bare core.

b) Case Two – Flux is severely distorted. The region near the control rod is
depressed because of the rod’s high absorption cross-section. In order to
produce sufficient power, the flux below the control rod is enhanced.
Thus, a peak exists below the rod.

c) Case Three – The flux is still distorted but less so because the control rod
is not inserted as far into the core.

Now, what are the consequences of these changes to the flux shape? Several of
the more obvious are:

ƒ The axial fuel burnup will not be uniform.

ƒ The power distribution will not be uniform. Power density will


peak in the regions where the flux peaks. This could in turn cause
thermal-hydraulic safety limits to be approached locally even
though, for the core as a whole, there is ample margin to those
limits. In order to preclude such issues, reactor operators are
required to ensure that the fraction of power generated in the upper
and lower halves of the core is monitored and kept within specified
limits.

ƒ Monitoring of reactor power is made difficult.

Suppose that a detector is at a fixed location, noted as D in the figure. It senses a


varying neutron count rate as the control rod position changes. Yet the power
level (area under curve) is the same in all three cases. In order to avoid this
problem:

ƒ Detectors that are quite long are often used. These in effect
integrate over the flux shape.

ƒ Detectors are frequently calibrated against thermal power balances,


which are called calorimetrics.

Power = Σ m
& c p ΔT

Where m & is flow rate, cp is heat capacity, ΔT is difference between inlet and
outlet temperatures. The summation is over all fluid flows that remove heat from
the reactor. These include the primary, reflector, and shield coolant systems.
(Note: One might logically ask why use detectors at all if calorimetrics are more

3
accurate. The answer is that calorimetrics are only accurate when a plant is at
thermal equilibrium. Power plants have enormous heat capacities. As a result, it
can take days for a plant to attain thermal equilibrium following a power change.
Detectors responses are, in contrast, on the order of a second or less.)

4
L

Homogeneous
D

L
B
L
A Blade Inserted
D
E
D

B
L L
A
D Blade Withdrawn
E

Effect of Axial Flux Shape

You might also like