Development and verification of a one-dimensional collision probability based neutron transport code to model axially heterogeneous cylindrical vessels containing aqueous and organic plutonium nitrate
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Published version
Author(s)
Daniels, JR
Williams, MMR
Eaton, MD
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This paper presents the development and verification of a collision probability (CP) code, capable of modelling neutron transport in one-dimensional slabs and axially heterogeneous cylinders with varying radii. The CP code is used to model layered systems of aqueous and organic plutonium nitrate, as process criticality accidents are more likely to occur in these systems compared to dry systems. The use of the CP code is desired as it offers a computationally inexpensive method for calculating neutron transport when compared to higher fidelity codes such as MCNP. For slab geometries, the CP code can be used effectively, given they contain at least 0.7 g cm−2 plutonium. The approximation employed by the CP code to model heterogeneous cylinders overestimated the rate of radial neutron leakage such that vessels with radii of 30.0 cm could not reliably calculate reactivity to within 1 $ of MCNP. Increasing the radii to 40.0 cm improved the accuracy of the CP code to within 1 $ of MCNP for systems containing at least 2.75 kg plutonium. The error in the CP code increased when used to model cylindrical geometries with dished ends and complete vessels with dished ends, such that systems with large dished ends and low plutonium content should be avoided. As a simple, neutronics based model, the CP code could be used as part of rough order of magnitude calculations for criticality transients, where high levels of accuracy are not required, given that potential errors in results have been previously identified.
Date Issued
2024-02
Date Acceptance
2023-11-08
Citation
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 2024, 196
ISSN
0306-4549
Publisher
Elsevier Masson
Journal / Book Title
Annals of Nuclear Energy
Volume
196
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2023.110235
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
110235
Date Publish Online
2023-11-17