Methods of studying the effect of rough surfaces on reactivity in two-dimensional reactor physics problems
File(s)Rough_surfaces_manuscript.pdf (1.22 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Williams, Anthony
Williams, Michael
Eaton, Matthew
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Rough and perturbed surfaces are examined in the field of reactor physics using homotopy, homogenisation and the Feinberg-Galanin method. The homotopy method allows a problem with a perturbed interface to be represented as an unperturbed problem with a modified boundary condition. Perturbation theory was applied to this method and the results were studied for the neutron transport equation, the neutron diffusion approximation and a hybrid ABH-diffusion approximation. The homogenisation of surface roughness in the fuelmoderator interface was also examined and compared to the homotopy approach. Finally, the effect of larger-scale geometric uncertainties was studied using the Feinberg-Galanin approach. The effectiveness of the methods is determined by examining the change in effective multiplication factor keff examined both directly and via the six-factor formula. Analytic solutions to approximations of perturbation theory differentials were capable of
accurately predicting the change in keff when compared to numerical solutions. Examining a change in fuel pin radius of 20 µm, we find that for water moderated systems the overall change in eff k is close to 70 pcm and for graphite systems it is 18 pcm. This shows that water and graphite moderated cores are sensitive to small changes in geometry.
accurately predicting the change in keff when compared to numerical solutions. Examining a change in fuel pin radius of 20 µm, we find that for water moderated systems the overall change in eff k is close to 70 pcm and for graphite systems it is 18 pcm. This shows that water and graphite moderated cores are sensitive to small changes in geometry.
Date Issued
2019-08-01
Date Acceptance
2019-03-01
Citation
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 2019, 130, pp.493-511
ISSN
0306-4549
Publisher
Elsevier Masson
Start Page
493
End Page
511
Journal / Book Title
Annals of Nuclear Energy
Volume
130
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
EPSRC
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/J002011/1
EP/G037426/1
EP/K503733/1
EP/R511547/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Nuclear Science & Technology
Homotopy
Perturbation theory
ABH
Perturbation
Geometric perturbation
Feinberg-Galanin
PERTURBATION-THEORY
VIRTUAL DENSITY
BOUNDARY
HOMOGENIZATION
0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
0299 Other Physical Sciences
Energy
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-03-22