• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2020

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has carried out various neutronics experiments in the commissioning stage of the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR), and this paper introduces the results of first criticality prediction and experiment for the JRTR. The Monte Carlo Code for Advanced Reactor Design and analysis (McCARD) with the ENDF/B-VII.0 nuclear library was used for prediction calculations in the process of the first criticality approach, which was performed to provide reference for the first criticality experiment. In the experiment, fuel loading was carried out by measuring the inverse multiplication factor (1/M) to predict the number of fuel assemblies at the first criticality, and the first critical was reached on April 25, 2016. Comparing the first criticality prediction and experiment, the calculated and measured CAR (Control Absorber Rod) heights for the first criticality were 575 mm and 570.5 mm, respectively, that is, the difference between the two results was approximately 5 mm. From this result, it was confirmed that JRTR manufacturing and various experiments had successfully progressed as designed.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.47-59
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• 1993

The criticality of the shipping cask(KSC-7) for transportion of 7PWR spent fuel assemblies has been calculated and analysised on the basis of neutron transport theory. For criticality analysis, effects of the rod pitches, the fixed neutron absorbers(borated sus+boral) were considered. The effective multiplication factor has been calculated by KENO-Va, Mote Carlo method computer code, with the HANSEN-ROACH 16 group cross section set, which was made for personal computer system. The criticality for the KSC-7 cask was calculated in terms of the fresh fuel which was conservative for the aspects of nuclear critility. From the results of criticality analysis, the calculated Keff is proved to be lower than subcritical limit during normal transportation and under hypothetical accident condition. The maximum calculated criticalities of the KSC-7 were lower the safety criticality limit 1.0 recommended by US 10CFR71 both under normal and hypothetical accident condition. Also, to verify the KSC-7 criticality calculation results by using KENO-Va, it was carried out benchmark calculation with experimental data of B & W(Bobcock and Wilcox) company. From the 3s series of calculation of the KSC-7 cask and benchmark calculation, the cask was safely designed in nuclear criticality, respectively.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2005

The criticality analysis method using HELIOS-MASTER code system, which is the nuclear core analysis code system, was developed for the spent fuel storage of SMART-P reactor. We generated the macroscopic cross section of the geometric model with HELIOS and estimated the criticality of the 3-dimensional model with MASTER for SMART-P spent fuel storage. The validity of criticality analysis method for SMART-P spent fuel storage with the HELIOS-MASTER code system by 3-D MCNP calculation was also verified. The result of the criticality analysis with the HELIOS-MASTER code system is more conservative than that with the MCNP and the accuracy of this result is within the range of an allowable error. Because HELIOS-MASTER can perform the 3-D depletion calculation lot a spent fuel storage, it will be useful to perform the criticality analysis including a burnup credit in future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.271-272
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• 2010

Sensitivity analysis by TSUNAMI clarifies the complex effects of key nuclides on the criticality probability quantitatively. As discussed above, the $K_{eff}$ of $UO_2$ fuel reaches the maximum value with 42w% concentration of intrusion water. The concentration of hydrogen affects the complexity of reaching criticality by its competition between the concentrations of $^{235}U$. Approximately if the weight percent of $H_2O$ in the mixture is less than 42%, the moderation effect of hydrogen surpasses its dilution effect on $^{235}U$. However, the importance of $^{235}U$ increases dramatically when the weight percent of water is bigger than 42%. In the sensitivity evaluation of $UO_2$ fuel employing TSUMAMI, there is a similar crosspoint of the sensitivity of $^{235}U$ and the sensitivity of $^1H$ where the criticality reaches summit. And the optimal water weight percent is determined to be 50%.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.spc
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• pp.37-50
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• 2020

In this paper, an overview of the scoping calculation results is provided with respect to criticality and radiation shielding of two KBS-3V type PWR SNF disposal systems and one NWMO-type CANDU SNF disposal system of the improved KAERI reference disposal system for SNFs (KRS⁺). The results confirmed that the calculated effective multiplication factors (k_eff) of each disposal system comply with the design criteria (< 0.95). Based on a sensitivity study, the bounding conditions for criticality assumed a flooded container, actinide-only fuel composition, and a decay time of tens of thousands of years. The necessity of mixed loading for some PWR SNFs with high enrichment and low discharge burnup was identified from the evaluated preliminary possible loading area. Furthermore, the absorbed dose rate in the bentonite region was confirmed to be considerably lower than the design criterion (< 1 Gy·hr^-1). Entire PWR SNFs with various enrichment and discharge burnup can be deposited in the KRS⁺ system without any shielding issues. The container thickness applied to the current KRS⁺ design was clarified as sufficient considering the minimum thickness of the container to satisfy the shielding criterion. In conclusion, the current KRS⁺ design is suitable in terms of nuclear criticality and radiation shielding.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4731-4742
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• 2022

RBMK fuel assemblies differ from other LWR FA due to a specific arrangement of the fuel rods, the low enrichment, and the used burnable absorber - erbium. Therefore, there is a challenge to adapt modeling tools, developed for other LWR types, to solve RBMK problems. A set of 10 different depletion simulation schemes were tested to estimate the impact on reactivity and spent fuel composition of possible SCALE code options for the neutron transport modelling and the use of different nuclear data libraries. The simulations were performed using cross-section libraries based on both, VII.0 and VII.1, versions of ENDF/B nuclear data, and assuming continuous energy and multigroup simulation modes, standard and user-defined Dancoff factor values, and employing deterministic and Monte Carlo methods. The criticality analysis with burn-up credit was performed for the SFP loaded with RBMK-1500 FA. Spent fuel compositions were taken from each of 10 performed depletion simulations. The criticality of SFP is found to be overestimated by up to 0.08% in simulation cases using user-defined Dancoff factors comparing the results obtained using the continuous energy library (VII.1 version of ENDF/B nuclear data). It was shown that such discrepancy is determined by the higher U-235 and Pu-239 isotopes concentrations calculated.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.249-253
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• 2001

Neutron dose assessment in criticality accidents using Whole Body Counter (WBC) was proved to be an effective method as rapid neutron dose estimation at the JCO criticality accident in Tokai-mura. The 1.36MeV gamma-ray of $^{24}Na$ in a body can be detected easily by a germanium detector. The Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) of $^{24}Na$ is approximately 50Bq for 10miniute measurement by the germanium-type whole body counter at JNC Tokai Works. Neutron energy spectra at the typical shielding conditions in criticality accidents were calculated and the conversion factor, whole body activity-to-organ mass weighted neutron absorbed dose, corresponding to each condition were determined. The conversion factor for uncollied fission spectrum is 7.7 $[(Bq^{24}Na/g^{23}Na)/mGy]$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.321-322
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• 2009

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.191-195
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• 2016

Background: The current status of ACE format MCNP/MCNPX libraries by NDC of KAERI is presented with a short description of each library. Materials and Methods: Validation calculations with recent nuclear data evaluations ENDF/BV-II. 0, ENDF/B-VII.1, JEFF-3.2, and JENDL-4.0 have been carried out by the MCNP5 code for 119 criticality benchmark problems taken from the expanded criticality validation suite supplied by LANL. The overall performances of the ACE format KN-libraries have been analyzed in comparison with the results calculated with the ENDF/B-VII.0-based ENDF70 library of LANL. Results and Discussion: It was confirmed that the ENDF/B-VII.1-based KNE71 library showed better performances than the others by comparing the RMS errors and ${chi}^2$ values for five benchmark categories as well as whole benchmark problems. ENDF/B-VII.1 and JEFF-3.2 have a tendency to yield more reliable MCNP calculation results within certain confidence intervals regarding the total uncertainties for the $k_{eff}$ values. Conclusion: It is found that the adoption of the latest evaluated nuclear data might ensure better outcomes in various research and development areas.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 1984

Criticality analyses of the KSC-1(Korean Shipping Cask-1) spent fuel shipping cask have been performed with the help of KENO-IV Monte Carlo computer code and 19-group CSLIB 19 cross section set which was generated from AMPX modular system. The analyses followed a benchmark calculation which has been made regard to the B & W CX-10 criticality facility in order to validate the Monte Carlo code cross section set described above. The KSC-1 shipping cask seems to be safe in the criticality point of view for the transport of one PWR spent fuel assembly under the normal conditions as well as the hypothetical accident conditions.