0.

Nuclear Reactor Kinetics

RE-I Special Lecture

ITC Reactor Engineering Course 2018

September, 2018

Takeshi Sakurai

sakurai.takeshi@jaea.go.jp

Nuclear Human Resource Development Center

Japan Atomic Energy Agency
 0.2

Contents of lecture

1. Derivation of reactor kinetics equation from neutron diffusion

equation
2. Subcritical reactor

3. Application of reactor kinetics - Reactivity measurement -

 1.1

1. Derivation of reactor kinetics

equation from neutron
diffusion equation
 1.2
Delayed neutrons in diffusion equation (1/2)
The time-dependent one-group neutron diffusion equation is
1 d  (r, t )
 D 2 (r, t )   a  r, t    f  r, t   sr, t . (1)
v dt
 1 d  (r, t ) d n(r, t )  Neutron Neutron Neutron Neutron
   loss rate by loss rate by production rate production rate
 v d t d t  leakage absorption by fission by external
Neutron density
(depends on flux) source
changing rate

(Every term is for the unit volume around position r and has the dimension of [cm-3 s-1].)

For the reactor kinetics, the neutron production rate by fission is divided into
two contributions as
 f  r, t   f  r, t 1       c r, t ,
i i
i 1, 6

PN production rate DN production rate by

by fission precursor decay
where ci r, t  is a time-dependent DN precursor density (cm-3 s-1).
 1.3
Delayed neutrons in diffusion equation (2/2)
 The neutron diffusion equation then becomes
d n(r, t )
 D 2 (r, t )   a  r, t 
dt
  f  r, t 1      i ci r, t   sr, t . (2)
i 1, 6

 We need to consider time-dependence of DN precursor density of i th group

(i=1, … ,6) :

d ci (r, t )
 i ci (r, t )   f  r, t   i (3)
DN precursors(fission
dt products) do not move in
the reactor, so we need
Loss rate by Production rate not consider the loss rate
radioactive because one DN by "leakage".
decay corresponds to one
DN precursor

 
     i 
 i 1, 6 
 1.4
Major assumption
If we solve the coupled differential equations above, we can obtain time-
dependent behavior of neutron density spatial distribution nr , t  .
But they are too complex to solve analytically, so we derive reactor kinetics
equation which is more useful to grasp the time-dependent behavior of
reactor, by introducing following approximations.

• The neutron flux spatial distribution shape

does not depend on time and it is fixed to be
the fundamental mode distribution with the
geometrical buckling of the reactor in
consideration : x
-a/2 0 a/2
  (r, t )  B  r, t   0
2 2
g (4)

• The neutron spectrum also does not depend on time. ( We have already
treated the reactor by the one-group theory.)

We ignore the spatial effects and also the energy effect in the reactor kinetics.
 1.5
Derivation (1/7)
The neutron loss rate by leakage term in the neutron diffusion eq. can be
expressed with the geometrical buckling Bg2 by using Eq.(4) :

d n(r, t )
 D 2 (r, t )   a  r, t   f  r, t 1      i ci r, t   s r, t .
dt i 1, 6
(2')

d n(r, t )
  DBg2 (r, t )   a  r, t   f  r, t 1      i ci r, t   sr, t .
dt i 1, 6
(5)

d n(r, t )
dt
 
  D Bg   a   f 1     (r, t )   i ci r, t   sr, t .
2

(6)
i 1, 6
 1.6
Derivation (2/7)
 D B g
2

  a   f 1     (r, t ) (7)

   f 1   

  a  D Bg
2
  1  2 
 a  D Bg 
 (r, t ) (8)
  (r, t )  v n(r, t )

  f 

 v  a  D Bg
2
   1
   D B
2
1     n(r, t )

(9)
 a g 
B
A
 1.7
Derivation (3/7)

Part A

 f  f  f  f 1
    keff
 a  D Bg
2

 a 1  D  a  Bg
2
 
 a 1  L2 Bg
2
 
 a 1  L Bg
2 2

(10)
Thermal neutron diffusion Infinite multiplication
length squared factor
L2  D  a k  Non-leakage
probability
  f a
1
P

1  L2 Bg
2

 f
 1 2
1     1  keff 1    (11)
 a  D Bg
 1.8
Derivation (4/7)

Part B
1 1
   1 

v  a  D Bg
2
 

1
2
 

1
2

 v  a  D Bg   v  a 1  D  a Bg 
1 1
 1 1   1 
   P

 v  a 1  L Bg
2 2
   v a  (12)
L2  D  a

1  a (cm) corresponds to a mean free path before the neutron is

absorbed.

1  a 1 v  (s) corresponds to a “mean time” before the neutron is lost by

absorption in an infinite size(very large) reactor because we do
not take account of the loss by leakage in this.
1
P (s) a “mean time” before the neutron is lost by absorption or
v a leakage in the actual reactor with the finite size
Neutron lifetime l in one-group theory
 1.9
Derivation (5/7)
Eq.(9)
  f 

v  a  D Bg
2
   1
   D B
2
1     n(r, t )

 a g 
1
  1  keff 1     n(r, t )
l
keff 1     1
 n(r, t ) (13)
l
The modified neutron diffusion equation then is found to be
d n(r, t ) keff 1     1
 n(r, t )   i ci (r, t )  s (r, t )
dt l i 1, 6

 
 n(r, t )   i ci (r, t )  s (r, t ) . (14)
 i 1, 6

Neutron density DN precursor density

 1.10
Derivation (6/7)
For the DN precursor density equation,
d ci (r, t )
 i ci (r, t )  f  r, t   i (3')
dt
 f  r, t   i   f v nr, t   i
Effective
 v  f  i nr, t  multiplication
factor keff
 1 v 1  f  i nr, t 
1 1  f
 1  i nr, t 
v   a 1  L Bg    a 1  L Bg 
2 2 1 2 2

1 1  f
  i nr, t 
Reciprocal v  a 1  1  L 2
B 2
g 
1
 a 1  L Bg 
2 2

of
1
Neutron    f
1 1
life time l  2 
 i nr, t .
 v  a 1  L2
B g   a 1  L Bg 
2 2 (15)
 1.11
Derivation (7/7)
The DN precursor density equation is then modified and found to be

 ci (r, t ) k eff
  i nr, t  i ci (r, t )
dt l
i
 nr, t  i ci (r, t ) . (16)


Finally, the reactor kinetics equation is summarized as

d n(r, t )   
 n(r, t )   i ci (r, t )  s (r, t ) , (14)
dt  i 1, 6

 ci (r, t )  i
 nr, t  i ci (r, t ) . (16')
dt 

Neutron density DN precursor density

 1.12
Summary
Integrating in the whole reactor volume V , we obtain

d N (t )   
 N (t )   i Ci (t )  S (t ) , (17)
dt  i 1, 6

 Ci (t )  i
 N t  i C i (t ) . (18)
dt 

where N (t )   nr, t dV Ci (t )   ci r, t dV S (t )   s r, t dV

V V V

During the derivation, we ignored the spatial effects by assuming that the
neutron flux spatial distribution shape is fixed to be the fundamental mode
distribution, so the neutron number density in any point can represent the time-
dependent behavior of the total neutron numbers in the reactor. It is therefore
called "one-point" reactor kinetics equation.
 2.1

2. Subcritical reactor
 2.2
Revisit of sub critical steady state reactor (1/2)
We consider the subcritical steady-state reactor (reactivity ρ) with an external
neutron source.

The kinetics equations are given by (one-DN-group approximation)

   d N (t ) 
N 0   C0  S     0 (1)
  dt 
 d C (t )  Neutron emission rate of source

N 0   C0     0 (2)
  dt 

From Eq.(2)  C0  N 0 .


Substituting this to Eq.(1) N0  S  0. (3)
 Constant
S N 0  1   
N0  (4)

    0 is called sub-criticality
 2.3
Revisit of subcritical steady state reactor (2/2)
When the sub-criticality changes, the neutron population level changes and
finally reaches the 'new level' that corresponds to the 'new sub-criticality’ after a
transient.
For example, when the sub-criticality is changed -ρ0 →-ρ1 and -ρ1 →-ρ2 ,
(-ρ0) > (-ρ1) (-ρ1) > (-ρ2)
N 2   S   2 
N2
N1   S  1  stable
N1
We now consider
N0 stable how the neuron
stable number changes
during the
-ρ0 -ρ1 -ρ2 transient.
S
N0 
  0 
sub-criticality change sub-criticality change
-ρ0 -ρ1 -ρ1 -ρ2
Elapsed time [sec]
 2.4
Response after step reactivity change (1/5)
 Response during prompt jump
Small positive step reactivity change from ρ0(<0) to ρ1(<0)
The kinetics equation before reactivity change (one-DN-group approximation)
(5)
(7)
(6)

The kinetics equation after reactivity change

(8)

By using approximation “C(t) stays constant “ during prompt jump and initial
condition N(0)=N0 , we reach a solution for during only prompt jump

+ (9)

Ratio of neutron population Negative and disappears quickly after prompt jump
 2.5
Response after step reactivity change (2/5)
 Example of response for positive step reactivity change
during prompt jump 1.15

β= 0.007, Λ = 1×10-5 sec Approaches constant level

λ=0.08 sec-1, 1.1 with the approximation
N t 
ρ0= － 0.2 dollar N0
steady state subcritical reactor Prompt jump
1.05

Change reactivity by
1 Very
Δρ=+0.1 dollar
short
period
Behavior of subcritical reactor 0.95
after reaching ρ1= － 0.1 dollar 0 0.01 0.02
Elapsed time(sec)
 2.6
Response after step reactivity change (3/5)
 Response after prompt jump has been finished
Prompt Jump Approximation can be applied.

(10)

(11)
Erase C(t) from both equation

(12)

Solve this with initial condition of

+ (13)

Constant Negative and eventually disappears because ρ1<0

 2.7
Response after step reactivity change (4/5)
 Example of response ….. after prompt jump
2.5
Neutron population eventually saturates
at a level of Approaches another
N1 N 0   0 1 (14)
2
constant level

This level can also be derived N t 

from Eq.(4) : Initial value for prompt
N0 jump approximation
N 0   S   0  (15)
1.5

N1   S  1  (16)
1
N1 N 0   0 1 , N 0   0   N1  1    S
(17) 0.5
0 500 1000
Number of neutrons
X Corresponding subcriticality = Constant Elapsed time(sec)
About
15 min
This can be obtained without prompt jump approximation.
 2.8
Response after step reactivity change (5/5)
 In case the reactor become super-critical 4
3.5 ρ0= － 0.2 dollar
(0 < ρ1 << β) after reactivity insertion
3 Δρ=+0.3 dollar
The reactor response can be described N t  2.5 Super criticality
by Eqs.(9) and (13) with 0 < ρ1 N0 2
Prompt jump followed by stable period 1.5
increase 1
 In case the reactor become critical (ρ1=0) 0.5
0 10 20 30 40 50
after reactivity insertion Elapsed time(sec)
During the prompt jump, the reactor response
can be described by Eq.(9) with ρ1=0. 3

After the prompt jump, ρ1=0 in Eq.(12) : 2.5

Constant N t  2
(17) N 0 1.5 ρ0= － 0.2 dollar
1 Δρ=+0.2 dollar
criticality
0.5
(18) 0 20 40 60 80 100
Prompt jump Elapsed time(sec)
 3.1

3. Application of reactor kinetics

- Reactivity measurement -
 3.2
Reactivity measurement methods

Typical reactivity measurement methods :

• Reactor period method (Already learned in JRR-1 simulator training)

• Rod drop method

Extrapolation method

Integral method

• Source multiplication method

 3.3
Rod drop method (1/5)
 Extrapolation method 1.2
The ratio between N(t) before the reactivity 1.1
change N0 and that after the prompt jump
Njmp is given by 1 N jmp 

N jmp  N t  0.9 N0  
 (1)
N0   N 0  0.8

0.7
 N0 0.6 Extrapolation
 1 (2)
 N jmp
0.5
0 0.005 0.01
A count rate ratio of a neutron detector
installed around the reactor is used as the Elapsed time (sec)

ratio of N0/Njmp .
The count rate after the jump is determined by
an extrapolation.
 3.4
Rod drop method (2/5)

1.1
Practically, the count rate

Count rate ratios to critical steady-state

measurements are made in a
1
long time range.

0.9

It is difficult to make the

extrapolation with good 0.8
precision.
Extrapolation
0.7

0.6

0.5
0 1 2
Elapsed time (sec)
 3.5
Rod drop method (3/5)
 Integral method
The kinetics equations of one-DN-group approximation are
d N (t )   
 N (t )   C t  (3)
dt 
d C (t ) 
 N (t )   C t  (4)
dt 
Integrating these equations from t  0 (reactivity insertion) to t   , we obtain
   
N ( )  N 0   N (t ) dt    C t dt (5)
 0 0
N (0)
  
C ()  C0   N (t ) dt    C t dt (6)
 0 0
C (0)
Summing these equations, and N ()  0 C ()  0 (because   0 ) we obtain
 
 N 0  C0   N (t ) dt (7)
 0
 3.6
Rod drop method (4/5)
At the critical steady-state (before the reactivity insertion), Eq.(4) becomes
 
N 0   C0  0 C0  N0 (8)
 
Using this in Eq.(7),

     
 N0  N 0  1   N 0   N (t ) dt . (9)
    0

  N0  N0
       (10)
  
 
 
0
N (t ) dt 
0
N (t ) dt    
 

 1 N0
Reactivity in dollar unit ＝  
(11)
 
（  0 ） 
0
N (t ) dt
For the 235U,1   13.04
 3.7
Rod drop method (5/5)
The count rate of detectors installed in or around the reactor is used to
represent the number of neutrons N(t) .

"Count rate" at the critical state

The area under line
after the reactivity
 1 N0 insertion corresponds
 (12) N t  
   to

0
N (t ) dt N0 0
N (t ) dt
N0
"Total counts" accumulated
from the time of negative
reactivity insertion
0
Elapsed time (sec)
The integral method has an Reactivity
advantage over the extrapolation insertion
method in precision of reactivity Fig. Neutron detector count rate after
measurement. negative reactivity insertion
 3.8
Source multiplication method (1/2)
In the subcritical reactor with a neutron source,

S Table Reactivity and count rate of neutron

N (13)
detector in a subcritical reactor

Reactivity Sub- Count rate of
criticality neutron detector
N      S  Constant to represent N
(14)
ρ1 - ρ1 n1
n1  1   n2   2  (15)
Insert positive
reactivity Count rate
worth increases
Δρ=ρ2 - ρ1
  2   n1  1  (16)
ρ2 - ρ2 n2
n2

If we know the - ρ1 (by some method …), we can determine the another sub-
criticality - ρ2 by using the ratio of count rate between the two state n1/n2 .
 3.9
Source multiplication method (2/2)
If we know the inserted reactivity worth Δρ (by some method …) and measure
the ratio of count rate between the two state n1/n2 .
(17)
Table Reactivity and count rate of neutron
detector in a subcritical reactor
(18)
Reactivity Sub- Count rate of
And use this in Eq.(16) criticality neutron detector
to represent N
(16)
ρ1 - ρ1 n1
Insert positive
reactivity Count rate
(19)
worth increases
Δρ=ρ2 - ρ1
ρ2 - ρ2 n2

We can determine the sub-criticality (- ρ2 ) from the inserted reactivity worth

Thank you for your kind attention