Determination of Criticality of Nuclear

Reactors Using Neutron Diffusion

Theory
Supervised by
Prof. M. P. Dias
C.D. Samaranayake (090452R) 14-1
A.A.A.U. Sampath (090455E) 14-2
L.P.M.I. Sampath (090460N) 14-3
I.D.S. Sanchala (090462X) 14-4

Presented by : C.D. Samaranayake (14-1)

A.A.A.U Sampath (14-2)

Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)

 Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear Reactor  device built to sustain a controlled nuclear
fission chain reaction
Main Components of Pressurized Water
Reactor (PWR):
- Core (assembly of Fuel rods)
- Reflector
- Control rods

2
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Fuel Assembly of the Core
• Fuel assemblies are repeated in a regular fashion in the
core so that we can fairly assume circular shaped regions as
shown in the figure;
• A region is a volume inside the reactor having constant
enrichment (percentage of U-235 in fuel rods) and constant
average cross sections.
• Neutron flux is maximum at the
center and reduces to zero at
the reactor boundary.

• Individual enrichment levels

should be increased as it goes
away from the center to obtain
a flatter flux distribution.
3
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Homogenizing the regions
• Fuel rods are discretely arranged in each region.
• It is assumed that the mean free path of a neutron is
significantly larger than the radius of the fuel cell.
 A fuel rod can be represented by an equivalent
homogeneous area at the vicinity.
 The entire region assumed to be homogeneous entity.
• Material parameters are assumed to be constant in each region

Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014) 4

Different states of the Nuclear Reactor

• Start Up → k > 1 (Supercritical) – Control rods are fully

withdrawn.
• Shutdown → k < 1 (Subcritical) – Control rods are fully
inserted.
• Normal Operation → k = 1 (Steady State) – Control rods are
partially inserted.

Representing the effect of control rods

• Control rods are symmetrically distributed in the core.
• Control rods are inserted evenly into the core to control
the reactivity.
• This effect can be represented by introducing axially
distributed regions and by adjusting the cell averaged
absorption cross sections accordingly.
5
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Objectives
Calculating the values for Neutron Flux (φ) and
Multiplication Factor (k).
Neutron Flux (φ):
Product of neutron number density (n) and speed (v).
Neutron flux (φ) governs;
Reactor power distribution, heat generation and
Burn up distribution
Multiplication Factor (k):
The ratio between the number of fissions in two
successive generations of the neutrons.
Multiplication Factor governs the Reactor State

Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014) 6

Continuity Equation
- Involves neutron balance for a considered volume.
Leakage + Absorption + Scattering into lower energy bands
=
Fission + Scattering from higher energy bands
div( J (r , z , E ))   t (r , z , E ) (r , z , E ) 

 ( E ) E0
0  f (r , z, E ' ) (r , z, E ' )dE '  E 0  s (r , z, E '  E ) (r , z, E ' )dE'
 E
(Equation 1)
k

Three unknowns in the continuity equation

- Neutron flux
- Neutron current
- Multiplication factor
Using a set of assumptions, we can obtain a relationship
between neutron flux and neutron current
J (r , z , E )   D( r , z , E )   (r , z , E ) (Equation 2)

7
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
 Diffusion Equation :
   D(r , z , E )   (r , z , E )   t (r , z, E ) (r , z, E ) 

 ( E ) E0 E0
  f (r , z, E ) (r , z, E )dE     s (r , z, E   E ) (r , z, E )dE  (Equation 3)
k 0 E

Difficult to obtain a simple analytical solution for Diffusion

equation.
 Coefficients are known, but they are both energy and
position dependent.
 Energy dependence is normally treated by discretizing the
energy variable.
 Energy range is divided into number of groups.

8
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
 1 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 2
𝛻2 = 𝑟 + (Equation 4)
𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑧 2

• Neutron flux is
constant at each
node.
• Material parameters
are constant in each
cell.
𝑟 1 ℎ 1
𝑖+ 𝑗+2
2
න 𝑟 න 𝐹(𝑟, 𝑧) 𝑑𝑧. 𝑑𝑟
𝑟 1 ℎ 1
𝑖− 𝑗−2
2

9
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
 Considering the 𝑔𝑡ℎ energy group, for the (𝑖, 𝑗)𝑡ℎ node along
the reactor radius and the axis respectively;
𝑟 1
𝑖+ 2
ℎ 1
𝑗+2 1𝑑 𝑑∅𝑖,𝑗 𝑑 2 ∅𝑖,𝑗 𝑟 1
𝑖+2
ℎ 1
𝑗+2
−න .න 𝑟 𝐷𝑔 𝑟 + 𝑑𝑧. 𝑑𝑟 + න . න Σ𝑡,𝑔 ∅𝑖,𝑗 𝑑𝑧. 𝑑𝑟 = 𝑆𝑔
𝑟 1 ℎ 1
𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑧 2 𝑟 1 ℎ 1
𝑖− 2 𝑗−2 𝑖−2 𝑗−2

(Equation 5)

𝜒𝑔 𝑟𝑖+12 ℎ𝑗+12 𝐺 𝑟 1
𝑖+2
ℎ 1
𝑗+
𝑆𝑔 = න .න ෍ 𝜐Σ𝑓,𝑔 ∅𝑖,𝑗 𝑑𝑧. 𝑑𝑟 + න . න 2 Σ𝑠,𝑔−1→𝑔 ∅𝑖,𝑗 𝑑𝑧. 𝑑𝑟
𝑘 𝑟 1 ℎ 1 𝑔=1 𝑟 1 ℎ 1
𝑖− 𝑗− 𝑖− 𝑗−
2 2 2 2

(Equation 6)
Using finite difference method
𝑑∅𝑔 ∅𝑔,(𝑖+1,𝑗) −∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗)
Approximating at 𝑟, 𝑧 = (𝑟𝑖+1Τ2 , ℎ𝑗 )by and
𝑑𝑟 ∆𝑟,𝑖
𝑑∅𝑔 ∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗) −∅𝑔,(𝑖−1,𝑗)
at 𝑟, 𝑧 = (𝑟𝑖−1Τ2 , ℎ𝑗 ) by ;where ∆𝑟,𝑖 = 𝑟𝑖 − 𝑟𝑖−1 .
𝑑𝑟 ∆𝑟,𝑖

10
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
 𝑑∅𝑔 ∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗+1) −∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗)
approximating at 𝑟, 𝑧 = (𝑟𝑖 , ℎ𝑗+1Τ2 )by and
𝑑𝑧 ∆𝑧,𝑗
𝑑∅𝑔 ∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗) −∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗−1)
at 𝑟, 𝑧 = (𝑟𝑖 , ℎ𝑗−1Τ2 ) by ;where ∆𝑧,𝑗 = ℎ𝑗 − ℎ𝑗−1 .
𝑑𝑧 ∆𝑧,𝑗
The above equation has the following linear form;
𝑎𝑖−1 ,𝑗 ∅𝑔,(𝑖−1,𝑗) + 𝑏𝑖+1,𝑗 ∅𝑔,(𝑖+1,𝑗) +𝑐𝑖,𝑗 ∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗) + 𝑑𝑖,𝑗+1 ∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗+1) + 𝑒𝑖,𝑗+1 ∅𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗+1) = 𝑆𝑔(𝑖,𝑗)
(Equation 7)
𝜉𝑔,(𝑖,𝑗) ∅𝑔(𝑖,𝑗)
𝑆𝑔(𝑖,𝑗) = + 𝜁𝑔(𝑖,𝑗) . ∅𝑔−1,(𝑖,𝑗) (Equation 8)
𝑘
Where each coefficient is given by,
∆𝒛,𝒋 ∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏 𝒓𝒊−𝟏/𝟐
𝒂𝒊−𝟏,𝒋 = 𝑫𝒊,𝒋 . + 𝑫𝒊,𝒋+𝟏 .
𝟐 𝟐 ∆𝒓,𝒊
∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏 ∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏 𝒓𝒊+𝟏/𝟐
𝒄𝒊+𝟏,𝒋 = 𝑫𝒊+𝟏,𝒋+𝟏 . + 𝑫𝒊+𝟏,𝒋 .
𝟐 𝟐 ∆𝒓,𝒊+𝟏
𝒃𝒊,𝒋
𝒓𝟐 𝟏 − 𝒓𝟐𝒊 𝒓𝟐𝒊 −𝒓𝟐 𝟏
𝒊+𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏 𝒊−𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏
= −𝒂𝒊−𝟏,𝒋 − 𝒄𝒊+𝟏,𝒋 + ෍ . + ෍ .
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝒕,(𝒊+𝟏,𝒋+𝟏) 𝒕,(𝒊,𝒋+𝟏)
𝒓𝟐𝒊 −𝒓𝟐 𝟏 𝒓𝟐 𝟏 − 𝒓𝟐𝒊
𝒊−𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋 𝒊+𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋
+෍ . +෍ . − 𝒅𝒊,𝒋−𝟏 − 𝒆𝒊,𝒋+𝟏
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝒊,𝒋 𝒊+𝟏,𝒋 11
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
 𝒓𝟐𝒊 − 𝒓𝟐 𝟏 𝒓𝟐 𝟏 − 𝒓𝟐𝒊
𝒊−
𝟐 𝟏 𝒊+
𝟐 𝟏
𝒅𝒊,𝒋−𝟏 = −𝑫𝒊,𝒋 . − 𝑫𝒊+𝟏,𝒋 .
𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋 𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋
𝒓𝟐 𝟏 − 𝒓𝟐𝒊 𝒓𝟐𝒊 − 𝒓𝟐 𝟏
𝒊+
𝟐 𝟏 𝒊−
𝟐 𝟏
𝒆𝒊,𝒋+𝟏 = −𝑫𝒊+𝟏,𝒋+𝟏 . − 𝑫𝒊,𝒋+𝟏 .
𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏 𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏
𝝃𝒊,𝒋
𝑮 𝒓𝟐 𝟏 − 𝒓𝟐𝒊 𝒓𝟐𝒊 −𝒓𝟐 𝟏
𝒊+𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏 𝒊−𝟐 ∆𝒛,𝒋+𝟏
=𝝊෍൦ ෍ . + ෍ .
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝒈=𝟏 𝒕,(𝒊+𝟏,𝒋+𝟏) 𝒕,(𝒊,𝒋+𝟏)

12
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Considering through the core radius;
Linear Equation can be modified to a matrix format
For 𝑔 = 1 ∶ 𝐺
𝑔 1 𝑔 𝑔 𝑔 𝑔−1
[𝑆]𝑁𝑀×1 = . [𝐿]𝑁𝑀×𝑁𝑀 . [∅]𝑁𝑀×1 +[𝑅]𝑁𝑀×𝑁𝑀 . [∅]𝑁𝑀×1 (Equation 9)
𝑘

𝑔 𝑔 𝑔
[𝐴]𝑁𝑀×𝑁𝑀 . [∅]𝑁𝑀×1 = [𝑆]𝑁𝑀×1 (Equation 10)

𝑔 𝑔 𝑔
[∅]𝑁𝑀×1 = [𝐴−1 ]𝑁𝑀×𝑁𝑀 . [𝑆]𝑁𝑀×1 (Equation 11)
G G
  g
T ( n 1 )
Lgg (gn 1 )
g 1 g 1
k ( n1 )  k ( n )
G G
  g
T ( n 1 )
Lgg (gn ) (Equation 12)
g 1 g 1

𝑔 𝑔
Where [𝐴]𝑁𝑀×𝑁𝑀 is penta-diagonal and [𝐿]𝑁𝑀×𝑁𝑀 is diagonal
Iterations should be continued until [∅]𝑵𝑴×𝟏 and 𝒌 converge.

13
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Flowchart of the Algorithm

14
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Benchmarking Accuracy of
the Results

Group 14 - Final Presentation

(21/03/2014) 15
 Neutron Flux Distribution of a Cylindrical Reactor for
one-group, one-region, two-dimension case
Neutron Flux Distribution in a Cylindrical Reactor

1Neutron Flux Distribution in a Cylindrical Reactor

1
Neutron Flux - nv

0.9
0.8
0.8
1
0.7
Neutron Flux - nv

0.8 0.6
0.6
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.3
0.2
0
20
0 0.2
5 15
10
0 15 10 0.1
20
40 25
5
0
30 0
30 Distance along 15
the Axis - h (cm)
Distance along the Radius - 20
r (cm) 10
10 5
0 0

16
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Result Verification…

h= 40 cm

h= 30 cm

h= 20 cm

Group 14 - Final Presentation

(21/03/2014) 17
Neutron Flux Distribution along the Height at different Radii
Numerical Solution
1
r= 16cm Analytical Solution

r= 12 cm
0.8
Neutron Flux - nv

0.6
r= 8 cm

0.4

0.2

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Distance along the Axis - h (cm)
Group 14 - Final Presentation
(21/03/2014) 18
 Result Verification
Results from our Numerical code

“Introduction to Nuclear Reactor

Theory”- J.R. Lamarsh

19
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Neutron Flux Distribution of a Cylindrical Reactor for two-group,
two-region, two-dimension case-Fast group

Neutron Flux Distribution in a Cylindrical Reactor

20
x 10

6
Neutron Flux - nv

0
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.5
0.35 0.45
0.3 0.4
0.25 0.35
0.3
0.2 0.25
0.15 0.2
0.1 0.15
0.1
0.05
0.05
0 0
Distance along the Axis - h (m)
Distance along the Radius - r (m)

Group 14 - Final Presentation

(21/03/2014) 20
 Neutron Flux Distribution of a Cylindrical Reactor for two-group,
two-region, two-dimension case-thermal group
Neutron Flux Distribution in a Cylindrical Reactor

20
x 10

6
Neutron Flux - nv

0
0.5
0.45 0.5
0.4 0.45
0.35 0.4
0.3 0.35
0.25 0.3
0.2 0.25
0.15 0.2
0.1 0.15
0.05 0.1
0.05
0 0

Distance along the Axis - h (m) Distance along the Radius - r (m)

Multiplication factor
Group 14 - Final Presentation
=1.09793
(21/03/2014) 21
Progress...
Step Analytical Solution Software (Numerical ) Solution

One group /One

region/One dimension Completed Completed
(Radial flux Variation)

Two group/One
region/One dimension Completed Completed
(Radial flux Variation)

Two group/Two
region/One dimension Completed Completed
(Radial flux Variation)

Multi group/Multi
region/One dimension N/A Completed
(Radial flux Variation)

22
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Progress...
Step Analytical Solution Software (Numerical
) Solution
One group /One region/Two
dimension (Radial and Axial flux Completed Completed
Variation)

One group/Two region/Two

dimension (Radial and Axial flux Completed Completed
Variation / Axial and Radial Reflected)

Two group/One region/Two

dimension (Radial and Axial flux Completed Completed
Variation )

Two group/Two region/Two

dimension (Radial and Axial flux Completed Completed
Variation)

Multi group/Multi region/Two

dimension (Radial and Axial flux N/A Completed
Variation)
23
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
 Effect of the Control Rods
- represent by two approaches

 Software is capable of finding the control rod position in

order to make the reactor critical under all healthy
operating conditions.
 For a particular control rod position the flux distribution and
multiplication factor can be obtained.

Representing the effect of control rods

With respect to the control rod inserted depth absorption cross

sections should be modified .

24
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Algorithm to obtain Control rod position to make reactor critical

Group 14 - Final Presentation

(21/03/2014) 25
 x Distribution in a Cylindrical
Flux variation with the insertion of the control rods
Neutron Flux - nv

5
0

x 10
“Nuclear Reactor Analysis”

20
0.1
Distance along the Axis from Top - h (m)
- J.J. Duderstadt and L.J. Hamilton

0.2

Reactor along the axis when control rods are inserted from top
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
Control rods inserted to 0.8m
 Reactor critical when control rods inserted 0.8m from the
top.
 Only the shape of the flux distribution can be compared.
 Radial flux variation is not affected by insertion of control
rods.
 Axial flux variation distorts according the inserted depth of
Group 14 - Final Presentation
control rods. (21/03/2014) 26
Flux distribution and multiplication factor for a given control rod position

Group 14 - Final Presentation

(21/03/2014) 27
 tribution in a Cylindrical
Variation of the flux when the control rods are inserted
0 Neutron Flux - nv

5
0

x 10

- J.J. Duderstadt and L.J. Hamilton

20
0.1
Distance along the Axis from Top - h (m)

“Nuclear Reactor Analysis”

0.2

Reactor along the axis when control rods are inserted from top
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1

Flux variation for a constant power output( Flux maximum value

increases with increased control rod depth)
Initially flux is sinusoidal and distorts with insertion of control rods.
when control rods fully inserted sinusoidal flux variation can
obtained again
Group 14 - Final Presentation
(21/03/2014) 28
Data Sources and References

“An Introduction to Nuclear Technology”

- Prof. Prinath Dias
“Nuclear Reactor Analysis”
- J.J. Duderstadt and L.J. Hamilton
“Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory”
- John R. Lamarsh
Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF)
- issued by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
 https://aris.iaea.org/PDF/APR1000.pdf

29
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)
Thank You!

30
Group 14 - Final Presentation (21/03/2014)