https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202124707019
MULTI-PHYSICS TRANSIENT SIMULATIONS WITH TRIPOLI-4®
Den-Service d’Etudes des Réacteurs et de Mathématiques Appliquées (SERMA), CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
margaux.faucher@cea.fr
davide.mancusi@cea.fr
andrea.zoia@cea.fr
Published online: 22 February 2021
In this work, we present the first dynamic calculations performed with the Monte Carlo neutron transport code TRIPOLI-4R with thermal-hydraulics feedback. For this purpose, the Monte Carlo code was extended for multi-physics capabilities and coupled to the thermal-hydraulics subchannel code SUBCHANFLOW. As a test case for the verification of transient simulation capabilities, a 3x3-assembly mini-core benchmark based on the TMI-1 reactor is considered with a pin-by-pin description. Two reactivity excursion scenarios initiated by control-rod movement are simulated starting from a critical state and compared to analogous simulations performed using the Serpent 2 Monte-Carlo code. The time evolution of the neutron power, fuel temperature, coolant temperature and coolant density are analysed to assess the multi-physics capabilities of TRIPOLI-4. The stabilizing e_ects of thermal-hydraulics on the neutron power appear to be well taken into account. The computational requirements for massively parallel calculations are also discussed.
Key words: Monte Carlo simulation / neutron transport / multi-physics / transients / dynamic
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2021
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
