Equilibrium Core Model for Micro Pebble Bed Reactors Using OpenMC.
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| Title: | Equilibrium Core Model for Micro Pebble Bed Reactors Using OpenMC. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Altamimi, Ragai1,2 (AUTHOR), Doyle, Donald1 (AUTHOR), Trelewicz, Jason R.3,4,5 (AUTHOR), Brown, Nicholas R.1 (AUTHOR) nbrown49@utk.edu |
| Source: | Nuclear Science & Engineering. Nov2025, Vol. 199 Issue 11, p1971-1985. 15p. |
| Subjects: | Pebble bed reactors, Monte Carlo method, Nuclear reactor cores, Fission products, Neutron diffusion |
| Abstract: | Estimating the equilibrium state for pebble bed reactors (PBRs) presents complex challenges as it requires simultaneous consideration of changes in the pebbles' movement as well as their fuel compositions. Whereas traditional approaches use multigroup diffusion codes for neutronics calculations of PBRs' equilibrium state, the double-heterogeneity of PBRs complicates neutron cross-section generation. Continuous-energy Monte Carlo (MC) methods are better suited for detailed PBR analysis because of their natural handling of double-heterogeneity, but they demand substantially more computational resources. This study introduces a novel method for efficiently estimating the equilibrium state in small and micro PBRs with reduced computational cost. The method is anticipated to accelerate the processes of core design and performing parametric studies for utilizing advanced fuel and structural materials. The HTR-10 reactor design was used for validating the method's predictions and evaluating its computational efficiency. When compared to reference calculation values from the literature, criticality (k-effective) was predicted to be approximately within the margin of error of the MC transport calculation, average core power density (in megawatts per cubic meter) was predicted within 2.5% relative error, and maximum thermal flux (1013 n/cm2.s−1) was predicted within 1.8% relative error. The calculated inventory of fission products and fuel composition in the equilibrium core were within 15% and 16.6%, respectively, when compared to reported values from the literature. The difference is attributed to variance in the considered values of the core temperature, which was found to significantly affect the depletion analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Nuclear Science & Engineering is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Equilibrium Core Model for Micro Pebble Bed Reactors Using OpenMC. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Altamimi%2C+Ragai%22">Altamimi, Ragai</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Doyle%2C+Donald%22">Doyle, Donald</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Trelewicz%2C+Jason+R%2E%22">Trelewicz, Jason R.</searchLink><relatesTo>3,4,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brown%2C+Nicholas+R%2E%22">Brown, Nicholas R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> nbrown49@utk.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nuclear+Science+%26+Engineering%22">Nuclear Science & Engineering</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 199 Issue 11, p1971-1985. 15p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pebble+bed+reactors%22">Pebble bed reactors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Monte+Carlo+method%22">Monte Carlo method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nuclear+reactor+cores%22">Nuclear reactor cores</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fission+products%22">Fission products</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neutron+diffusion%22">Neutron diffusion</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Estimating the equilibrium state for pebble bed reactors (PBRs) presents complex challenges as it requires simultaneous consideration of changes in the pebbles' movement as well as their fuel compositions. Whereas traditional approaches use multigroup diffusion codes for neutronics calculations of PBRs' equilibrium state, the double-heterogeneity of PBRs complicates neutron cross-section generation. Continuous-energy Monte Carlo (MC) methods are better suited for detailed PBR analysis because of their natural handling of double-heterogeneity, but they demand substantially more computational resources. This study introduces a novel method for efficiently estimating the equilibrium state in small and micro PBRs with reduced computational cost. The method is anticipated to accelerate the processes of core design and performing parametric studies for utilizing advanced fuel and structural materials. The HTR-10 reactor design was used for validating the method's predictions and evaluating its computational efficiency. When compared to reference calculation values from the literature, criticality (k-effective) was predicted to be approximately within the margin of error of the MC transport calculation, average core power density (in megawatts per cubic meter) was predicted within 2.5% relative error, and maximum thermal flux (1013 n/cm2.s−1) was predicted within 1.8% relative error. The calculated inventory of fission products and fuel composition in the equilibrium core were within 15% and 16.6%, respectively, when compared to reported values from the literature. The difference is attributed to variance in the considered values of the core temperature, which was found to significantly affect the depletion analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Nuclear Science & Engineering is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/00295639.2025.2474878 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 15 StartPage: 1971 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Pebble bed reactors Type: general – SubjectFull: Monte Carlo method Type: general – SubjectFull: Nuclear reactor cores Type: general – SubjectFull: Fission products Type: general – SubjectFull: Neutron diffusion Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Equilibrium Core Model for Micro Pebble Bed Reactors Using OpenMC. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Altamimi, Ragai – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Doyle, Donald – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Trelewicz, Jason R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Brown, Nicholas R. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 11 Text: Nov2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00295639 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 199 – Type: issue Value: 11 Titles: – TitleFull: Nuclear Science & Engineering Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
