Dynamic analysis of space–time effects in the ISU RACE configuration

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 562; no. 2; pp. 838 - 840
• Main Authors: Kulik, Viktoriya V., Lee, John C., Beller, Denis E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 23.06.2006
• Subjects: RACE; Reactivity; Space–time α-method; 28.41.Ak; Space–time α-method; Reactivity; RACE
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2006.02.067

We present reactor physics analyses for the accelerator-driven thermal reactor configuration of the Reactor-Accelerator Coupling Experiments Project (RACE) at Idaho State University. A full-core model is developed using the ERANOS deterministic code coupled with the JEF2.2 nuclear data library. A pulsed source experiment is simulated to test performance of the traditional point kinetics and space–time α-methods for reactivity determination. Analysis of the simulated 235U detector responses to a neutron source pulse indicates the inability of point kinetics theory to correctly determine the reactivity for the subcritical RACE configuration. The ERANOS simulation indicates that the traditional α-method overestimates k eff by 4.5%, whereas the space–time α-method could yield significant improvements if sufficiently accurate simulations are available.