Development of a Consistent General Order Nodal Method for Solving the Three-Dimensional, Multigroup Neutron Diffusion Equation

A consistent general order nodal method for solving the three-dimensional neutron diffusion equation in (x-y-z) geometry has been derived by using a weighted integral technique and expanding the spatial variable by the Legendre orthogonal series function. The equation set derived can be converted into any order nodal schemes. It forms a compact system for general order of nodal moments. The method utilizes fewer unknown variables in the schemes for iterative-convergence solution than other nodal methods listed in the literatures, and because the method utilizes the analytic solutions of the transverse-integrated one dimensional equations and a consistent approximation for a given spatial variable through all the solution procedures, which renders the use of an approximation for the transverse leakages no longer necessary, we can expect extremely accurate solutions and the solution would converge exactly when the mesh width is decreased or the approximation order is increased.