The path for innovative severe accident neutronics studies in ZPRs. part I.2 - Interpretation of SNEAK-12A experiment for core disruption in LMFBRs impact of nuclear data uncertainties on reactivity coefficients

M. Margulis, P. Blaise, F. Mellier, E. Gilad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The present work details a further investigation of the SNEAK-12A experimental program, which aimed to study material relocation in Sodium Fast Reactors (SFRs) leading to core degradation. The further investigation include sensitivity and uncertainty propagation analysis. In this paper, a comparison is made using two codes, a Monte Carlo based code Serpent 2 and the deterministic system code ERANOS. A sensitivity analysis was made utilizing the two codes, with comparison of two nuclear data libraries (ENDF/B-VII.1 and JEFF-3.1.1). The code-to-code comparison resulted in a very good agreement, while the comparison of libraries showed large discrepancies, manly due to the differences in the sodium cross-section data. The sensitivity analysis, was followed by a complete propagated uncertainty analysis based on the covariance evaluated data available in the COMAC data evaluation. The results of the uncertainties show that there are still large discrepancies linked to the nuclear data. This work is done within the frame work of new core design capacities and new ways of conducting in Zero Power Reactors, such as the ZEPHYR project led independently by CEA.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)97-117
Number of pages21
JournalProgress in Nuclear Energy
Volume96
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2017

Keywords

  • Core disruption
  • Nuclear data
  • Reactivity coefficient
  • SNEAK-12A
  • Sensitivity
  • Severe accidents
  • Uncertainty

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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