GT MHR Project High-Temperature GT-MHR High Temperature Reactor Neutronic Issues and Ways to Resolve Them

P.A. Fomichenko National Research Center Kurchatov Institute Yu.P. Sukharev JSC Afrikantov OKBM,

GT-MHR PROJECT MISSION AND CURRENT WORK STAGE

One of the most successful international projects in nuclear technologies is current cooperation between the RF and the USA in development of a gas-turbine modular helium reactor (GT-MHR). The GT-MHR mission declares that the GT-MHR is a project funded in cooperation by the US DOE and the Rosatom, aimed at the solution of one of the most important nonproliferation problems disposal of weapon-grade plutonium. The GT-MHR technology provides effective disposal of weapon-grade plutonium and could be used for development of new-generation reactors capable of effective production of electricity, hydrogen and disposal of actinides of spent fuel from light-water reactors. In 2002 the GT-MHR Preliminary Design was completed, approved by the Minatom Scientific-Technical Council and revised by the US experts assigned by the US Department of Energy. Energy Since 2003 the R&D program aimed at demonstration of the Project key technologies has been realized for the most important concepts of the Project. 2

GT-MHR DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

The GT-MHR GT MHR design has a number of distinctive features related to its design :
1) the fuel composition based on weapons grade plutonium in combination with

erbium burnable absorber; 2) fuel particles with multilayer coating dispersed in fuel compacts which are arranged in hexagonal graphite fuel blocks; 3) annular layout of reactor core with fuel blocks and reflector graphite blocks;
Control rod stand pipe Pyrocarbide PyC Upper reflector of graphite blocks Silicon carbide SiC Porous carbonPyC Annular core of prismatic FA Inner reflector of graphite blocks Outer reflector of graphite blocks Lower reflector of graphite blocks Fuel particle Fuel kernel

Fuel compact

FA I type

FA II type

4) higher power density of the core (up to 6.5 MW/m3), fuel composition high temperatures (maximum fuel temperature is 1250 C); 5) relatively small cross-sectional dimensions of annular core (inner and outer diameters are 2.9 and 4.8 m correspondently) and its axial elongation (core height amounts 8 m).

SCOPE AND TRENDS OF ACTIVITY

The scope and Th d trends t d of f analytical l ti l and d experimental i t l activities ti iti at t studying t d i neutronic characteristics of the GT-MHR are determined in compliance with the requirement for reliable validation applying certified software tools. Risk factor existing in analytical validation of the GT-MHR neutronic characteristics consists in that the applicable neutronic analysis codes, which have been used up to the present time, have been tested mostly within analytical and experimental studies t di of f HTGRs HTGR with ith uranium i f l fuel. Therefore, at the early stages of the GT-MHR nuclear design development it has already been determined that the experiments should be performed using critical test f ili i and facilities d analytical l i l benchmark-studies b h k di which hi h are becoming b i quite i relevant l considering id i that plutonium fuel and erbium burnable poison are used. The report contains the validation program of the GT-MHR neutronic properties, the stages of its implementation and the main results obtained by now. 4

EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF NEUTRONIC CHARACTERISTICS

The analyses of data of previous Russian and foreign experiments for HTGR designs validation permits to make a conclusion that in the course of these experiments:
- range of problems put within the framework of GT-MHR Project was covered incompletely; - neutron spectrum adequate with that of GT-MHR core was not simulated; - annular core, determining GT-MHR physics to a large extent, was not simulated; - effects of plutonium and erbium on the HTGR physics were not studied.

At the same time, the Russian Federation has the experimental base to fulfill work on partial validation of GT GT-MHR MHR neutronic characteristics characteristics. It includes includes, first of all all, the following facility:
- ASTRA critical facility at NRC KI designed for experimental investigation of neutronic characteristics of high-temperature gas-cooled thermal-neutron reactors (the purpose within the GT-MHR Project includes simulation of f the layout and design decisions); ) - critical test facilities BPF (Big Physical Facility) at IPPE, intended for full-scale simulation of reactor cores (the purpose within the GT-MHR Project includes experimental validation of reactivity e pe a u e e effects ec s co considering s de g various a ous p plutonium u o u co compositions pos o s in neutron eu o spec spectrum u which c is s temperature close to neutron spectrum of the GT-MHR core); - multi-purpose research reactors SM-3 and RBT-6 at NIIAR (their purpose within the GT-MHR Project includes irradiation of coated fuel particles and PuO2-x fuel compacts located in ampoule channels result is also the isotopic content of irradiated fuel) fuel).

PROBLEMS SOLVING AT CRITICAL FACILITY ASTRA

Annular core simulating. Preparation and fulfillment of experiments at the ASTRA critical facility at room temperature and with heating of the critical assembly. Systematization and analysis of analytical analyticalexperimental tests results. Obtain experimental results on:
- criticality iti lit analysis l i - reaction rate distribution - space flux distribution - control t l rods d worth th i in i inner and d side id reflectors fl t - temperature effect of reactivity - kinetics parameters estimation
300

1.6

1.2

08 0.8

235

0.4

U Fission Rates Distribution Experimental Data JAR Calculation

0 0 100 200

STUDY OF REACTIVITY TEMPERATURE EFFECTS AT BPF

Proving the possibility of performing reactivity temperature effects ff t studies t di f for th the t t test specimens in the central graphite insert at BPF. Creation C ti of f the th facility f ilit at t BPF with central graphite insert, where the GT-MHR reactor neutron spectrum is simulated. simulated Performing the experiments on the reactivity temperature effects for the test specimens of different Pu isotopic compositions including the effects of Er poison.

1. Sample outside the core

Reflector
2. Sample in the core

~ 400 mm

Neutron Spectrum
1.E+00 compact 91-3 91-4

Scheme of experiments on temperature coefficient

Active core
~ 1000 mm

1.E-01

Cooling air inflow

48 mm

1.E-02

Top view

B
1.E-03 1.E-03 1.E-02 1.E-01 1.E+00 1.E+01 1.E+02 Energy (eV) 1.E+03 1.E+04 1.E+05 1.E+06 1.E+07

A
51 mm

BENCHMARK ANALYSES
A l lack k of f experimental i t l data d t to t validate lid t neutronic t i characteristics h t i ti of f the th core with ith plutonium fuel makes benchmark analysis very important. Now neutronic analyses within the GT-MHR Project use both engineering (WIMS-D, JARHTGR, UNK), and precision (MCNP, MCU, UNK-MC) codes. Analytical codes, procedures and models are validated and upgraded mainly on the basis of benchmark analysis results (alongside with comparison of calculation results with available experimental data). By the present methodological approaches and analytical models have been developed, which adequately reflect Project distinctive features associated with annular core, plutonium fuel in the form of coated particles and d with i h erbium bi b burnable bl poison. i A considerable contribution in better understanding of the reactor physics was made by development and calculations of the stepwise benchmark analyses proposed for investigations within the framework of the GT-MHR project and, in particular, the IAEA Coordinated Research Programme IWGGCR CRP 5. The test provided sequential calculations, beginning from fuel compact cells, a fuel assembly cell and ending with a t 3D model. d l reactor 8

BENCHMARK ANALYSES (stages of calculations)

Stage 1. Fuel compact cells
R=0.99757 cm Fuel block graphite R=0.625 cm Fuel compact graphite TRISO fuel particles

FCC2

R=0.99757 cm Fuel block graphite R=0.625 cm Homogenized mixture of fuel compact graphite and fuel kernels and their coatings

FCC1

FCC

R=0.99757 cm Homogenized mixture of fuel block graphite, fuel compact graphite and fuel kernels and their coatings

Stage 2. Burnable poison cells

R=5.0516 cm Homogenized mixture of fuel, fuel block graphite and fuel compact graphite which is accounted for 1 burnable poison compact R=0.99757 cm Fuel block graphite R=0.625 0.6 5 cm c Homogenized mixture of burnable poison compact graphite and erbium oxide kernels

R=5.0516 cm Homogenized mixture of fuel, fuel block graphite and fuel compact graphite which is accounted for 1 burnable poison compact R=0.99757 cm Fuel block graphite Erbium oxide kernels

BPChom
Stage 3. Fuel assembly cell

C e BPC-het
Stage 4. Reactor 3D model

R=0.625 cm Burnable poison compact graphite

reflection

Beginning End of of cycle cycle 1 2/3 3/3 2 0 1/3 3 2/3 3/3 4 1/3 2/3 5 1/3 2/3 6 1/3 2/3 7 1/3 2/3 8 2/3 3/3 9 0 1/3 10 2/3 3/3 0 fresh fuel 1/3 fuel irradiated during 1/3 of life-time 2/3 fuel irradiated during 2/3 of life-time 3/3 fuel irradiated during 3/3 of life-time (spent fuel) Layer #

leakage

reflection

reflection

lea akage

Heterogeneous setting of fuel kernels and their coatings Homogenization of burnable poison in a compact Detailed geometry of a fuel assembly Boundary conditions reflection at all surfaces

reflection

leakage
Detailed setting of the core arrangement Detailed setting of core components geometry Isotopic content at the discrete condition through the life time of the fuel assembly burnup Boundary conditions leakage at all outer surfaces

lea akage

BENCHMARK ANALYSES (calculational models improving)

3D reactor analysis:
- critical parameters - fuel depletion - power distribution - control rods efficiency - neutron fluence - temperature reactivity coefficients

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VERIFICATION AND LICENSING OF NEUTRONIC ANALYSIS SOFTWARE

T systemize To t i work k of f formation f ti of f a set t of f reactor t physics h i analysis l i software ft i the in th GT-MHR Project on the basis of regulatory documents requirements a generalized list of safety-related parameters, for which provided calculation errors should be specified in certificates of individual software, was developed. A draft generalized matrix of verification of calculation codes for GT-MHR neutronic characteristics was formulated. formulated It includes, includes in particular particular, critical parameters parameters, power distribution, control rods efficiency, reserve shutdown system efficiency, reactivity effects, and effect of moisture ingress, reactor kinetics parameters, and residual power. power The proposed verification matrix type gives the possibility to use all available i f information ti obtained bt i d as of f benchmark b h k analysis l i of f standard t d d problems bl i is performed, and as new experimental data are accumulated and experimental data of previous studies are revised. 11

EXEMPLE OF VERIFICATION MATRIX

Verification basis Neutronic characteristics Critical parameters Space power distribution Space distribution of damaging neutron fluence Efficiency of control rods (separate and groups) Efficiency of reserve shutdown system Dependence of reactivity on temperature Dependence of reactivity on power Moisture ingress effect Fuel burnup Reactor kinetics parameters Residual power Calculation of test problems + + + + + + + + + + + Comparison with experimental data and reference codes results + + + + + + + -

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BASIC RESULTS OF VERIFICATION OBTAINED BY NOW

The investigations revealed the following factors determining sources and values of uncertainties: used nuclear data, effective models of consideration of double heterogeneity of fuel arrangement, the ratio of reaction rates of plutonium and erbium, detailing of space-energy description of neutron fields, consideration of spatial distribution of temperature and burnup over the core volume. In particular, it was shown that application of the procedures, developed specially for heterogeneous description of a fuel composition for a fuel block cell, in calculations using g engineering g gp programs g p permitted to decrease the multiplication p factor determination error from 5 to 0.5 %, and for isotope concentrations of plutonium and Er-167 - from 30 to 9 %, as compared with real-geometry reference calculations with detailed simulation of isotope kinetics in burnup.

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The nuclear data effect on uncertainty of i t isotope composition iti calculations l l ti and, d as a result, on the temperature reactivity coefficient was analyzed using the complex MONTEBURNS 2.0 - MCNP5 ORIGEN 2 2.1 1 for the temperature range of 700 900 K. It was obtained that application of different nuclear data could lead to the change g of 239Pu burnup p dynamics y and to the change of the sign of calculated reactivity temperature coefficient for the burnup value of 600 MWday/kg (see Table ) because of the change of the ratio between effects of plutonium and erbium isotopes. It was obtained that application of neutron constants from the files of estimated data JENDL3.3 JENDL3 3 is the most conservative approximation with regard to the meeting of the condition of negativity of the temperature reactivity coefficient.

BASIC RESULTS OF VERIFICATION OBTAINED BY NOW (continuation)

Dependence of temperature reactivity coefficients on burnup calculated by MCNP5 code
Reactivity coefficient*, 10-5 1/K Library Library Library Library JENDL 3.3 ENDF/B-5,6 JENDL 3.3 ENDF/B-5,6 F From 560 86 -1.26 to -0.71 From 590 88 -0.24 to +0.08 From 605 90 89 from +0.85 to +1.17 -0.03 to +0.02 from +0.38 620 90 to +0.68 * The range of reactivity coefficient values is determined by a statistic error MW day/kg Burnup of 239Pu, %

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BASIC RESULTS OF VERIFICATION OBTAINED BY NOW (continuation)

The change of the ratio between effects of plutonium and erbium isotopes is shown in Fig. 1. 239 241, 241 240Pu and 167Er Isotopes 239, determine ratio of fissions and absorptions in the reactor system with pure plutonium fuel. Values of temperature reactivity coefficient could be expected negative at burnup lower than 600 MWday/kg, d /k thi this corresponds d to the ratio of the total sum 239Pu, 241Pu masses to the mass of 167Er less than 25 ( (Fig. g 2). )
Fig. 1: Dependence of a fraction of absorption of 239Pu (),240Pu (), 241Pu P (), ) 167Er E (), ) and fission of 239Pu (), 241Pu () on burnup height

Fig 2: Dependence of Fig. a ratio of total absorption () and fission () of 239Pu and 241Pu to absorption of 167Er () and their masses () on burnup height.

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BASIC RESULTS OF VERIFICATION OBTAINED BY NOW (continuation)

The level of detail of a space-energy partition in the full-scale deterministic analysis of the reactor in the group diffusion approximation of the neutron transport equation influences considerably both to power distribution (Kr) (Fig. 3a) and efficiency of control rods (Fig. 3b). 96 points i t per f fuel l bl block k and d 51 group approximation is used here as a reference.

Fig. 3 (a, b): Dependence of neutronic characteristics on calculation approximations

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BASIC RESULTS OF VERIFICATION OBTAINED BY NOW (conclusion)

The performed studies show that the total calculation uncertainties are: for a multiplication factor less than 1 %, for concentrations of basic isotopes of plutonium p uo u a and de erbium b u to o 10 0 %, for o po power e d distribution s bu o to o 10 0 %, for o control rods efficiency to 20 %, for temperature reactivity coefficient to 30 %. As follows from the results showed in previous figure, power peaking factor and control rods efficiency calculation uncertainties can be reduced by using detailed calculation grid. Now in design calculations 24 mesh-points mesh points per fuel block and 13 group approximation is used. Reduction of temperature reactivity coefficient calculation uncertainties is not offers possible yet yet.

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