Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009

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No: 120

Conference: Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009

Title: Development and Application of MCNP5 & KENO-VI Monte Carlo models for the ATUCHA-2 PHWR analysis

Theme: Reactor Physics and Research Reactors

Author(s): Marco Pecchia, Carlo Parisi, Francesco D'Auria, Oscar Mazzantini

Contact : Marco Pecchia

E-mail: m.pecchia@ing.unipi.it

Address: University of Pisa, San Piero a Grado Nuclear Research Group (GRNSPG)
56122 Pisa

Country: Italy

Atucha-2 is a Siemens-designed PHWR reactor under construction in the Republic of Argentina. Its geometrical complexity and peculiarities require the adoption of advanced Monte Carlo codes for performing realistic neutronic simulations. Therefore core models of Atucha-2 PHWR were developed using both MCNP5 and KENO-VI codes. The developed models were applied for calculating reactor criticality states for a beginning of life core and for a burnup-equilibrium core. Moreover they were applied for the calculation of reactor cell constants and for estimating the oblique control rods volumes in each of the hexagonal prisms by which the reactor core was discretized. This last task was a necessary step for the setting-up and the validation of a RELAP5-3D©/NESTLE three dimensional neutron kinetic coupled thermal-hydraulic model, currently applied by GRNSPG/UNIPI for part of the Chapter 15 FSAR analyses.

No:	120
Conference:	Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2009
Title:	Development and Application of MCNP5 & KENO-VI Monte Carlo models for the ATUCHA-2 PHWR analysis
Theme:	Reactor Physics and Research Reactors
Author(s):	Marco Pecchia, Carlo Parisi, Francesco D'Auria, Oscar Mazzantini
Contact :	Marco Pecchia
E-mail:	m.pecchia@ing.unipi.it
Address:	University of Pisa, San Piero a Grado Nuclear Research Group (GRNSPG) 56122 Pisa
Country:	Italy

Atucha-2 is a Siemens-designed PHWR reactor under construction in the Republic of Argentina. Its geometrical complexity and peculiarities require the adoption of advanced Monte Carlo codes for performing realistic neutronic simulations. Therefore core models of Atucha-2 PHWR were developed using both MCNP5 and KENO-VI codes. The developed models were applied for calculating reactor criticality states for a beginning of life core and for a burnup-equilibrium core. Moreover they were applied for the calculation of reactor cell constants and for estimating the oblique control rods volumes in each of the hexagonal prisms by which the reactor core was discretized. This last task was a necessary step for the setting-up and the validation of a RELAP5-3D©/NESTLE three dimensional neutron kinetic coupled thermal-hydraulic model, currently applied by GRNSPG/UNIPI for part of the Chapter 15 FSAR analyses.