UO2 fuel pin bowing effects on isotopic concentrations. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, J.; Rochman, D.; Herrero, J.; Vasiliev, A.; Ferroukhi, H.; Pautz, A.; Seidl, M.; Janin, D.
• Is Part Of: Annals of nuclear energy. Volume 105(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 621.4805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2017.03.038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4549

Abstract

Highlights: 3D advanced simulations of pin bowing by SERPENT-2 Monte Carlo Code. Investigation of radially averaged bowing effects evolving with burn-up. Quantification of isotope variation on azimuthal and axial pin profiles. Moderation modification and axial power variation account for burn-up difference. Abstract: The effects of the fuel pin bowing are simulated in a 3 × 3 pin-cells lattice to assess the possible modeling biases on isotopic concentrations during depletion calculations. The central pin in the lattice is modeled with a deformation and as a function of burn-up, characterized by a displacement in the two-dimensional (2D) lattice and a C-shape bowing in the three-dimensional (3D) lattice. The relative deviations of isotopic concentrations induced by the bowing effect are quantitatively investigated for four specific isotopes: 235 U, 239 Pu, 244 Cm and 148 Nd with the SERPENT-2 Monte Carlo code. For qualitative estimations, azimuthal and longitudinal distributions are also illustrated in the 2D and 3D models.