Neutron Diffusion and Neutron Diffusion and

Moderation Moderation
Energy dependent flux Energy dependent flux
F = Lc
+
F
a
= L
a
E
)
0

c E
)
dE
Ficks Law Ficks Law
Luckily for you you still dont have to solve Luckily for you you still dont have to solve
the previous equation the previous equation
FIRST ASSUMPTION THE NEUTRONS FIRST ASSUMPTION THE NEUTRONS
ARE MONOENERGETIC ARE MONOENERGETIC
x
J(x)
J
x

J
x
= D
dc
dx
Current is a Vector Current is a Vector
y
x
z
r
dr
dw
dj

J
z
= J
z+
+ J
z
dJ
z
- dS = L
s
cdV
cosw dS
4zr
2
e
L
s
r
dS
J
z-
Rearrange and substitute in spherical coordinates
Magic Happens Magic Happens
J
z
=
L
s
4T
ce
L
s
r
cos]sin]dUd]dr
? A
0

0
T
2

0
2T

Use the Maclaurin series then integrate .

J
z
=
1
3L
s

xc
xz

Use the Gradient Use the Gradient

Solve for the neutron current in the x and y Solve for the neutron current in the x and y
direction. direction.

J
z
=
1
3L
s

xc
xz

J
x
=
1
3L
s

xc
xx

J
y
=
1
3L
s

xc
xy

J =
1
3L
s

xc
xx
+
xc
xy
+
xc
xz

J = D\c
Whats Important Whats Important
D=
1
3L
tr
=
1
3L
s
1coso
)
=

tr
3
Use the average angle of scatter to correct for the anisotropic scattering
coso =
2
3A
Continuity Continuity
Accumulation = Source Accumulation = Source - -Sinks Sinks
As neutrons diffuse through a reactor core they As neutrons diffuse through a reactor core they
may may
Be absorbed by fuel, moderator, coolant,structure Be absorbed by fuel, moderator, coolant,structure
Leak out of the core boundaries Leak out of the core boundaries
Act as a source for more new fission neutrons Act as a source for more new fission neutrons
Individually Individually
Source Source
Absorbed Absorbed

S = k

cL
a
# abs = cL
a
What about leakage? What about leakage?
J
y
J
y
+dy

L
y
net
= L
y +dy
L
y
= D
xc
xy
+
x
2
c
xy
2
dy

dxdz + D
xc
xy
dxdz
L
y
net
= D
x
2
c
xy
2
dxdydz
Leakage Leakage
Same derivation for the x and y directions Same derivation for the x and y directions
Add the leakage terms together Add the leakage terms together

L = D
c
2
c
cx
2
+
c
2
c
cy
2
+
c
2
c
cz
2

= D\
2
c
Back to Continuity Back to Continuity
Accumulation=Source Accumulation=Source - - leak leak - - lost lost
At Steady State At Steady State

dn
dt
=

L
a
c D\
2
c
)
L
a
c
0 = k

L
a
c D\
2
c
)
L
a
c
Manipulation Manipulation
Divide by macroscopic absorption cross Divide by macroscopic absorption cross- -
section section
Rearrange Rearrange

0 = k

c
D\
2
c
)
L
a
c
0 = k

1
)
c +
D\
2
c
)
L
a
Thermal Diffusion Length Thermal Diffusion Length
Define a term L Define a term L - - thermal diffusion length thermal diffusion length
Substitute into Continuity equation and Substitute into Continuity equation and
rearrange rearrange

L =
D
L
a
0 =
k

1

c
L
2
+ \
2
c
Material Buckling Material Buckling

0 =
k

1
)
c
L
2
+ \
2
c

0 = B
2
c + \
2
c
B
2
=
k

1
L
2
Steady State core Steady State core
The material buckling has an inverse relation The material buckling has an inverse relation
to the size of a critical core. to the size of a critical core.
The overall neutron production must just The overall neutron production must just
balance the lost and the leaking balance the lost and the leaking
B
2
=
k

1
L
2
1= k

1
B
2
L
2
+1
Infinite and Effective Infinite and Effective

1= k

1
B
2
L
2
+1
k
eff
P
nl
P
nl
=
1
B
2
L
2
+1
Remember our original assumption? Mono energetic neutrons
So this is for thermal neutrons only.
Solving the Diffusion Equation Solving the Diffusion Equation
Infinite slab Infinite slab
Point source Point source
Great Math in the text and I am not going to reproduce Great Math in the text and I am not going to reproduce
it here. it here.
Crows Flight Crows Flight
We now have enough We now have enough
information to get a information to get a
better estimate better estimate
Instead of using the Instead of using the
mean free path to mean free path to
estimate distance estimate distance
traveled for neutrons traveled for neutrons
use diffusion length use diffusion length
r
L
2
=
1
6
r
2
Correcting the mono energetic Correcting the mono energetic
To correct the flux for thermal energies use eq To correct the flux for thermal energies use eq
5.58 5.58
To correct the absorption cross sections use To correct the absorption cross sections use
eq 5.59 eq 5.59
To correct D and L for Temperature use 5.63 To correct D and L for Temperature use 5.63
and 5.64 and 5.64
Two Groups Two Groups
Ok we can solve for two energy groups Ok we can solve for two energy groups
Fast and Slow Fast and Slow
M
2
= L
2
+ t
Two groups Two groups
M is migration length and M is migration length and XX is neutron age is neutron age
Substitute M for L and you have the two group Substitute M for L and you have the two group
solution. solution.