A direct calculation method for subcritical multiplication factor in Reactor Monte Carlo code RMC. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shang, Xiaotong; Yu, Ganglin; Song, Jing; Wang, Kan
• Is Part Of: Annals of nuclear energy. Volume 118(2018)
• Page Start: 81
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Subcritical multiplication factor -- Modified source iteration method -- RMC -- ADS; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 621.4805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2018.04.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4549

Abstract

Highlights: A direct Monte Carlo method for subcritical multiplication factor is introduced. This method can be used in 3-D continuous energy Monte Carlo codes. This method can effectively calculate subcritical multiplication factor. This method is much more efficient compared to fixed source calculation. Abstract: The subcritical multiplication factor k s with the existence of external source neutrons is important for the evaluation of the neutron multiplication M, especially in the accelerator-driven system (ADS) performance assessment. The effective multiplication factor k eff calculated from the traditional source iteration method in Monte Carlo codes can't fully describe the subcritical system, acquiring the spurious neutron flux distribution. A direct Monte Carlo method called modified source iteration method by external source is introduced to calculate the subcritical multiplication factor k s directly, acquiring the real neutron flux at the same time. Compared with Monte Carlo fixed source calculation, the modified source iteration method has a great advantage in calculating the subcritical multiplication factor k s and its statistical error directly, especially for systems with complex geometry and a variety of fissile materials where much post-processing work on the tally results from fixed source calculation is needed. Moreover, much calculation time can be saved through this method when obtaining the subcritical multiplication factor k s with similar precision. This method has already been implemented in Reactor Monte Carlo code RMC including parallel calculation capability and can be effectively applied to the analysis of accelerator driven subcritical system (ADS).