DETERMINATION OF WEIGHTING FACTORS AND

FUNCTIONS FOR VVER-440 EX-CORE NEUTRON

DETECTORS USING MCNP5

Gabriel Farkas1, Vladimír Kršjak2, Vladimír Slugeň1, Ján Haščík1

1SUTin Bratislava, FEEIT

Ilkovičova 3, 81219 Bratislava

2IE JRC Petten, The Netherlands

NUSIM 2010, Častá Papiernička, 28. - 29. April 2010

1
Theoretical background

It is known, that the contribution of fuel assemblies to the ex-core detector response
depends not only on the power, but also on the position of the given assembly in the
core.

The spatial weighting function gives a relationship between the spatial power
distribution in the core and the ex-core detector response.

Ex-core detector response:

Spatial weighting
function D = C ⋅ P ⋅ ∫ p0 ( r )w( r )dV
[w(r)] V
Core Ex-core
[p0(r)] detector
[D] Numerical solution

D ≅ C ⋅ P ⋅ ∑ PiWi
i

SCORPIO, BIPR,… MCNP

Wi – weighting factor of i-th volume element

Pi - corresponding relative power

Volume element – the twentieth of fuel pin

height 2
Problem-solving flowchart

3
Conditions

24 1
2
23 3

22 4

21 5
Boron-lined
proportional counter
6
20 (CPNB44)

IV 19 7 III

18 8

17 9

16 10

15 11
14 12
13

II

Placement of the ex-core detectors - NPP Jaslovské Bohunice, the 3rd unit

Source range Intermediate + Power range

4
Method of calculation

Forward transport Monte Carlo – code MCNP5

Calculation performed by the so named Fix Source method

Source region boundaries → cover all of the fuel pin elements with Wi > 0.5% Wi,max

Calculation of Wi only in the source fuel pins → quasi-regular grid

Required uncertainty of the MC calculation < 3,5 % (for peripheral pins < 1,0 %)

Element of fuel pin

Ex-core
detector

12.2 cm
Source
region
Calculation
Scattering of
and Weighting weighting
absorption function factors
region

+y

Ex-core
detector
CPNB44
+x

5
Approximation of weighting functions

Approximation of analytical function in two steps:

 Vertical (1D) approximation → wa(z)
 Horizontal (2D) approximation → wh(x,y) or Volume (3D)
approximation

Vertical approximation:
 Finding an analytical function which properly describes Wi
distribution in vertical direction (that is along the source fuel pins).
 Smoothing the calculated (MCNP) Wi values for a horizontal
approximation.

Horizontal approximation:
 Fitting of two-dimensional function for layers of the twentieth of fuel
pin height.

 Calculation of Wi values in non-source fuel pins.

6
Approximation methods

Vertical approximation ⇒ weighted least square method

 Minimization can be expressed by the formula:

2
N W − ∑M a Z ( z ) 
χ2 = ∑   → min
i k =0 k k i

i =1  σ 
 i

 Quantitative measure for the goodness-of-fit ⇒ probability Q computed as

Q = gammq(0,5ν; 0,5χ2)

 Acceptance: Q > 10-3 (truly wrong approximations: Q << 10-18)

Horizontal approximation ⇒ the polyhedral approximation of closed Jordan

surfaces

7
Results – universal model of VVER-440 in MCNP5

Precise 3D whole-core model of the VVER-440 was developed in MCNP5

The model enables:

 to define any core loading pattern and various reactor operational
parameters
 to define axial and radial burnup profile as well as coolant (moderator)
density profile in the core,
 to specify temperature profile of the in-vessel and ex-vessel reactor
components,
 to fill the ionization chamber channels with given detectors.

8
Model of the VVER-440 in MCNP5

9
Model of FA in MCNP5

head

mixing grid

spacer grid

fuel pins
casing

supporting grid

bottom

10
Absorber part of the CA in
MCNP5

head

casing

boron inserts

central tube

bottom

11
Fuel part of the CA in MCNP5

head with the

joining structure

steel column

fuel pins

spacer grid

casing

supporting grid

bottom part

12
Results – axial weighting functions (1)

Total number of source fuel pins ⇒ 193 (that is 3860 volume elements)

Axial weighting factor (Wi) distribution presented for selected 16 source pins (320 elem.)

Source
fuel pin

Representative Representative
fuel assembly fuel pin

193 source pins (3860 elements) 16 representative source pins

54 FA ( 320 elements) 4 FA
13
 Results – axial weighting functions (2)

The proposed polynomial function: w a ( z ) = a0 + a1z + ... + aM z M

2,5E-08 1,8E-06
(-10,4,065) MCNP
(-8,6,065) MCNP
(-10,4,065) Fit
(-8,6,065) Fit 1,6E-06
(-10,4,001) MCNP
2,0E-08 (-10,4,001) Fit
1,4E-06
M=6 (-10,4,058) MCNP
(-10,4,058) Fit
1,2E-06

Váhový faktor
Váhový faktor

1,5E-08
1,0E-06 M=8
8,0E-07
1,0E-08
6,0E-07

5,0E-09 4,0E-07

2,0E-07

0,0E+00 0,0E+00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Vrstva Vrstva

6,0E-07 (-4,-7,127) MCNP

3,0E-05 (-11,4,070) MCNP
(-4,-7,127) Fit
(-11,4,070) Fit
M=4 (-4,-7,121) MCNP
(-4,-7,121) Fit
M=8 (-11,4,065) MCNP
5,0E-07 (-11,4,065) Fit
(-4,-7,065) MCNP 2,5E-05 (-11,4,058) MCNP
(-4,-7,065) Fit
(-11,4,058) Fit
(-4,-7,058) MCNP
(-11,4,127) MCNP
4,0E-07 (-4,-7,058) Fit
2,0E-05 (-11,4,127) Fit
(-4,-7,001) MCNP
Váhový faktor

(-11,4,121) MCNP

Váhový faktor
(-4,-7,001) Fit
(-11,4,121) Fit
3,0E-07 (-11,4,007) MCNP
1,5E-05
(-11,4,007) Fit
(-11,4,001) MCNP
(-11,4,001) Fit
2,0E-07 1,0E-05

1,0E-07 5,0E-06

0,0E+00 0,0E+00 14
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Vrstva Vrstva
 Results – axial weighting functions (3)

Axial weighting functions of the FA (-11,4) source pins Approximation constants of the FA (-11,4) source pins
3,0E-05
Prútik
Koeficient
001 007 058 065
2,5E-05 a0 4,61522E-06 1,20245E-05 3,61060E-06 1,11428E-05
a1 -4,45771E-08 1,52928E-08 -7,18204E-08 9,20293E-08
a2 -1,23627E-05 -3,34153E-05 -1,00324E-05 -3,17358E-05
2,0E-05
a3 1,51417E-07 -3,72827E-07 3,72486E-07 -3,77582E-07
Váhový faktor

a4 1,70563E-05 4,90657E-05 1,48834E-05 4,72560E-05

1,5E-05 a5 -1,67125E-07 9,30753E-07 -6,16268E-07 6,10558E-07
a6 -1,24447E-05 -3,83764E-05 -1,19704E-05 -3,75356E-05
a7 6,08540E-08 -5,74920E-07 3,11775E-07 -3,44892E-07
1,0E-05 a8 3,70162E-06 1,21480E-05 3,93329E-06 1,21447E-05

Prútik
Koeficient
5,0E-06 070 121 127
a0 2,67885E-05 7,11860E-06 1,98341E-05
a1 -2,15643E-07 2,08082E-08 2,39923E-07
0,0E+00
a2 -7,70887E-05 -1,99118E-05 -5,81343E-05
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
a3 7,80787E-07 3,04597E-08 -1,59578E-06
Vrstva
a4 1,13818E-04 2,85896E-05 8,81411E-05
a5 -6,35873E-07 -6,73139E-08 3,00168E-06
w a ( z ) = a0 + a1z + a2 z + ... + a8 z 2 8
a6 -8,84713E-05 -2,17607E-05 -7,09715E-05
a7 6,50860E-08 2,09473E-08 -1,67477E-06
M=8 a8 2,79088E-05 6,75438E-06 2,32479E-05

Degree of the polynomial function for source pin (-11,4,070)

Parameter
8 7 6 5
χ2 1,85700E+01 2,23427E+02 2,23917E+02 4,39923E+03
Q 6,92634E-02 4,61784E-41 1,61884E-40 0,00000E+00 15
Results – axial weighting functions (4)

The shapes of approximation curves correspond to the theoretically expected

weighting factor distribution in vertical direction.

Extension of the curves with increasing distance between the given fuel pin and
the ex-core detector is mainly caused by geometrical reasons.

Shapes of distribution curves in dependence on the position of source pins show

transient character between a typical „bell” curve (close pins) and “arc” curve
(distant pins).
16
 Results – horizontal weighting factor distribution (1)

Horizontal weighting factor distribution presented ⇒ for 3 selected layers of the

twentieth of fuel pin height – No.11 (central), No.15 & No.20 (upper peripheral).

At average, 3 - 4 source pins were calculated for each FA, except core periphery
where 5 – 7 pins per FA were computed.

20

15

11

17
Results – horizontal weighting factor distribution (2)

4,79-7 3,00-6

8,04-8 1,93-7
1,27%
1,07-6
0,53%
5,88-6
Wavg
1,67-8
1,45%
1,52-7
1,97%
4,09-7
1,45%
2,41-6
0,66% 2,63-6
2,28% 1,14% 1,50% 1,04% Wmax
5,91-8 1,48-7 7,82-7 ∼8
1,96% 2,53% 1,83%
Wmin
4,12-6
0,44%
1,04-7 2,72-7 1,63-6 8,47-6 3,82-6
1,54% 1,71% 0,72% 0,66%
2,07-8 2,10-7 6,02-7 3,68-6
2,26% 1,13% 1,82% 1,02%
∼7
7,79-8 2,09-7 1,21-6
1,91% 2,14% 1,51%

6,77-6
0,82%
1,47-7 4,21-7 2,65-6 1,46-5
1,53% 1,62% 1,15% 0,59%
6,50-6
3,02-8 3,19-7 9,65-7 6,36-6

∼7
2,34% 1,09% 1,67% 0,89%

3,37-7 2,07-6
1,87% 1,57%

1,17-5
0,78%
4,59-6 2,69-5
3,36-7 7,00-7
0,65% 0,48%
1,21-6
1,41% 1,36%
4,66-8 5,13-7 1,57-6 1,11-5
2,16% 0,99% 1,46% 0,74%
∼8
1,86-7 5,84-7 3,56-6 1,98-5
1,41% 1,56% 1,32% 0,33%
7,02-6
1,07%

11 7,58-8
3,86-7
1,57%
1,15-6
1,40%
8,61-7 2,63-6
1,53% 1,13% 1,20% CPNB44
3,08-7 9,23-7
1,79% 1,58%

4,70-6
0,83%
5,63-8 6,28-7 1,87-6 9,88-6 18
 Results – horizontal weighting factor distribution

8,98-8 1,27-7 0,7 % 1%

4,06-8 8,52-8 2,39-7 0,3 % 0,7 % 2%

8,46-8 1,67-7 3,74-7 0,7 % 1% 3%

6,36-8 1,25-7 3,47-7 0,5 % 1% 3%

5,23-8 1,32-7 6,08-7 2,79-6 0,4 % 1% 5% 23 %

6,54-8 1,98-7 8,81-7 4,41-6 0,5 % 2% 7% 36 %

8,50-8 3,07-7 1,57-6 7,60-6 0,7 % 3% 13 % 63 %

1,89-7 4,64-7 2,46-6 1,21-5 2% 6% 20 % 100 %

2,02-7 7,61-7 3,74-6 2% 6% 31 %

3,19-7 1,21-6 5,14-6 3% 10 % 42 %

5,27-8 5,19-7 1,95-6 7,81-6 0,4 % 4% 16 % 65 %

1,45-7 8,58-7 2,67-6 1% 5% 22 %

1,94-7 8,67-7 3,17-6 2% 7% 26 %

6,76-7 1,23-6 6% 10 %

1,23-7 1%

1,45-7 8,80-7 1% 7%

8,50-8 4,35-7 0,7 % 4%

1,98-7 2,16-7 2% 2%

2,06-7 2%

19
Results – horizontal weighting factor distribution (3)

Source pins
(MCNP)

11 15 20

weighting contribution of the closest 20 peripheral fuel assemblies to the ex-core detector
signal represents 92 % from the sum of the core weighting factor values,

in the closest fuel assembly region to the ex-core detector, in the direction from the
maximum weight position to the core centre, approximately eight-fold decrease of weighting
factor values is observed,

it can be expected that horizontal weighting function will “warp” in the upper and lower part
of the source region, i.e. their values will not be mainly determined by the distance from
20 the
ex-core detector.
Results – contribution of
peripheral FAs to the total
weighting factor value in the
given core layers (4)

7 9 20 24

82 % 86 % 92 % 93 %
11

80 % 83 % 92 % 93 %
15

73 % 76 % 92 % 94 %
20 W7 W9 W20 W24
21
∑W ∑W ∑W ∑W
 Results – horizontal weighting factor distribution (5)

it can be expected that the horizontal weighting function will have a character of exponential
polynomial function of the 3rd - 8th order of magnitude, generally expressed by:

 K L 
wh ( x, y ) = exp ∑∑ aij x i y j 
 i =0 j =0 

The following specific form can be designed:

wh ( x , y ) = exp( a0 + a1 x + a2 y + a3 x2 + a4 xy + a5 y2 + a6 x3 + a7 y3 + a8 x4 + a9 y4 + a10 x5 + a11 y5 + a12 x6 + a13 y6 )

22
 Results – sensitivity and parametric analysis (1)

Reference parameters
cB [g/kg] B [MWd/tHW] ρBET [g/cm3] H6 [cm] TM [°C] Ex-core detector
2,3 26000 2,16 250 (HKP) 282 ICH axis, core center

Influence of the parameter on the Wi a w(r)

Parameter Value Analysis
Deviation: REF - SA Assessment
0 A1
1 Boric acid concentration cB [g/kg] <3% insignificant
3,8 A2
Burnup 0 B1 ↓ Wi ∼ 3 – 10 %
2 B [MWd/tHM]
(fission neutron spectra) 45000 B2 ↑ Wi < 1,5 % insignificant
Reduction in serpentine concrete 5 C1 ∼4%
∆ρBET [%] significant
density 10 C2 ∼8%
3 Reduction in water fraction in the ↑ Wi
serpentine concrete ∆νH20 [%] 3 C3 ∼2%
composition
225 D1
4 Position of the 6th CA group H6 [cm] 200 D2 < 1,57 % (Ravg,MC) insignificant
125 D3
200
(cB =7,6 g/kg & H6 = 175 cm )
E1 ∼ 33 %
↓ Wi
260
5 Coolant/moderator temperature TM [°C] (cB =7,1 g/kg & H6 = 175 cm )
E2 ∼8% significant
268 E3 ↓ Wi ∼ 1 - 11 %
296,8 E4 ↑ Wi ∼ 1 - 13 %
3 (+x) F1 ∼3-4%
∆x [cm] ↑ ↓ Wi
3 (- x) F2
Shift of ex-core detector from
6 3 (+y) F3 ↓ Wi ∼6-7% significant
the reference position ∆y [cm]
3 (- y) F4 ↑ Wi ∼3-4%
∆z [cm] 3 (+ z) F5 23
 Výsledky – citlivostná a parametrická analýza (2)

Nárast (↑) Wi so zvyšovaním (↑) TM a naopak.

Silnejúca intenzita nárastu/poklesu Wi smerom do vnútra AZ pri vyššej/nižšej TM.

Zmena TM v intervale 268 - 296,8 °C → v periférnych PK zmena Wi do 2 %;

smerom do vnútra AZ sa vplyv zosilňuje s tendenciou ∼ 3 % na každú vrstvu
kaziet až do úrovne 12 %.

Výrazný vplyv → pri TM = 260 °C a 200 °C sa v periférnych PK dosahujú

odchýlky ∼ 8 % (260 °C) a 33 % (200 °C)

24
 Results – sensitivity and parametric analysis (2)

3,0E-05 (-4,-7,065) MCNP - REF

2,5E-07
(-11,4-070) MCNP - REF (-4,-7,065) Fit - REF
(-11,4,070) Fit - REF (-4,-7,065) MCNP - F3
(-11,4,070) MCNP - F3 (-4,-7,065) Fit - F3
2,5E-05 (-11,4,070) Fit - F3 (-4,-7,065) MCNP - F2
(-11,4,070) MCNP - F2
2,0E-07 (-4,-7,065) Fit - F2
(-11,4,070) Fit - F2 (-4,-7,065) MCNP - F4
2,0E-05 (-11,4,070) MCNP - F4 (-4,-7,065) Fit - F4
(-11,4,070) Fit - F4 (-4,-7,065) MCNP - F1
Váhový faktor

Váhový faktor
(-11,4,070) MCNP - F1 1,5E-07 (-4,-7,065) Fit - F1
(-11,4,070) Fit - F1
1,5E-05

1,0E-07
1,0E-05

5,0E-08
5,0E-06

0,0E+00 0,0E+00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Vrstva Vrstva

Radial shift by 3 cm in the direction from the core (F3)

⇒ decrease (↓) of the w(z) value by ∼ 6 – 7 %
F2F2

∆x = 3 cm ∆x = 3 cm

Radial shift by 3 cm in the direction to the core (F4) F4 F3
⇒ increase (↑) of the w(z) value by ∼ o 3 – 4 % F4 REF F3
+y

Shift along the x axis (F1/F2) ⇒ variable positive and F1

negative deviation in the w(z) value up to 3 – 4 %. F1

∆y = 3 cm ∆y = 3 cm

In general ⇒ with increasing distance the w(z) value
+x
decreases and vice versa. 25
 Results – sensitivity and parametric analysis (3)

3,0E-05
(-11,4-070) MCNP - REF
(-11,4,070) Fit - REF
(-11,4,070) MCNP - F5
2,5E-05
(-11,4,070) Fit - F5
2,5E-07
(-4,-7,127) MCNP - REF
(-4,-7,127) Fit - REF
(-4,-7,127) MCNP - F5
(-4,-7,127) Fit - F5
2,0E-07

2,0E-05
Váhový faktor

Váhový faktor
1,5E-07

1,5E-05

1,0E-07
1,0E-05

5,0E-08
5,0E-06

0,0E+00 0,0E+00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Vrstva Vrstva

F5 → shift by 3 cm

A very probable case of axis shift upward

Axial shift of the ex-core detector ⇒ shift of the axial

weighting function maximum in the given direction
F5
REF

26
Conclusion

Precise and complex whole-core model of the VVER-440 was developed in

MCNP5 and applied for solution of various reactor-physical problems (NPP
Bohunice & Mochovce).

Determination of weighting factors and weighting functions was performed

for the source range ex-core detector CPNB44 (NPP Bohunice)

At present, database of spatial weighting factors is generated.

Application areas

Calculated weighting functions can be very beneficial for the solution of

various reactor physical, operational, and safety problems. It can be
useful for the proper interpretation of the startup test measurements,
calculation of ex-core detector response in deep subcritical reactor states,
evaluation of influence of the core loading pattern on the detector
response, etc.

A very important application area is the reactor safety analysis. In this

case the elaborate weighting functions can be helpful in investigating how
effectively certain transients which cause a sudden change in the power
density distribution can be detected by the ex-core detectors.
27
Thank you for your attention

28