• Title/Summary/Keyword: Monte Carlo codes

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Image System Using Dual Energy Detector (이중 에너지 검출기를 이용한 영상 시스템)

  • Yeo, Hwa-Yeon
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.11 no.9
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    • pp.3517-3523
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    • 2010
  • Single exposure dual X-ray imaging can be used to separate soft and dense-material images for medical and industrial applications. This study keep focusing baggage inspection system(BIS) specifically. New detector modules for single exposure dual X-ray imaging are consisted of low energy detector (LED) and high energy detector (HED). First, the optimized thickness of copper filter coupled HED to separate low energy and high energy was simulated by the given X-ray energy (140 kVp, 1 mA) using Monte Carlo simulation codes, MCNPX. So as a result of simulation, the copper filter thickness is 0.7 mm. For the design of PIN photodiode, ATLAS device simulation tool was used. 16 channels PIN photodiode of 1.5 mm ${\times}$ 3.2 mm for Dual X-ray imaging detector was fabricated in the process of ETRI. And its dark current and quantum efficiency, terminal capacitance were measured. It was proven that the Lanex Fast B coupled HED were a sufficient candidate to replace the CsI(Tl) commerced in dual X-ray system, since these give a strong signal, overcoming system noise. Finally dual X-ray image was acquired through correction of the LED X-ray Image and the HED X-ray Image.

Prismatic-core advanced high temperature reactor and thermal energy storage coupled system - A preliminary design

  • Alameri, Saeed A.;King, Jeffrey C.;Alkaabi, Ahmed K.;Addad, Yacine
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.52 no.2
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    • pp.248-257
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    • 2020
  • This study presents an initial design for a novel system consisting in a coupled nuclear reactor and a phase change material-based thermal energy storage (TES) component, which acts as a buffer and regulator of heat transfer between the primary and secondary loops. The goal of this concept is to enhance the capacity factor of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the case of high integration of renewable energy sources into the electric grid. Hence, this system could support in elevating the economics of NPPs in current competitive markets, especially with subsidized solar and wind energy sources, and relatively low oil and gas prices. Furthermore, utilizing a prismatic-core advanced high temperature reactor (PAHTR) cooled by a molten salt with a high melting point, have the potential in increasing the system efficiency due to its high operating temperature, and providing the baseline requirements for coupling other process heat applications. The present research studies the neutronics and thermal hydraulics (TH) of the PAHTR as well as TH calculations for the TES which consists of 300 blocks with a total heat storage capacity of 150 MWd. SERPENT Monte Carlo and MCNP5 codes carried out the neutronics analysis of the PAHTR which is sized to have a 5-year refueling cycle and rated power of 300 MWth. The PAHTR has 10 metric tons of heavy metal with 19.75 wt% enriched UO2 TRISO fuel, a hot clean excess reactivity and shutdown margin of $33.70 and -$115.68; respectively, negative temperature feedback coefficients, and an axial flux peaking factor of 1.68. Star-CCM + code predicted the correct convective heat transfer coefficient variations for both the reactor and the storage. TH analysis results show that the flow in the primary loop (in the reactor and TES) remains in the developing mixed convection regime while it reaches a fully developed flow in the secondary loop.

Sensitivity analysis of the plastic hinge region in the wall pier of reinforced concrete bridges

  • Babaei, Ali;Mortezaei, Alireza;Salehian, Hamidreza
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.72 no.6
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    • pp.675-687
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    • 2019
  • As the bridges are an integral part of the transportation network, their function as one of the most important vital arteries during an earthquake is fundamental. In a design point of view, the bridges piers, and in particular the wall piers, are considered as effective structural elements in the seismic response of bridge structures due to their cantilever performance. Owing to reduced seismic load during design procedure, the response of these structural components should be ductile. This ductile behavior has a direct and decisive correlation to the development of plastic hinge region at the base of the wall pier. Several international seismic design codes and guidelines have suggested special detailing to assure ductile response in this region. In this paper, the parameters which affect the length of plastic hinge region in the reinforced concrete bridge with wall piers were examined and the sensitivity of these parameters was evaluated on the length of the plastic hinge region. Sensitivity analysis was accomplished by independently variable parameters with one standard deviation away from their means. For this aim, the Monte Carlo simulation, tornado diagram analysis, and first order second moment method were used to determine the uncertainties associated with analysis parameters. The results showed that, among the considered design variables, the aspect ratio of the pier wall (length to width ratio) and axial load level were the most important design parameters in the plastic hinge region, while the yield strength of transverse reinforcements had the least effect on determining the length of this region.

A Concise Design for the Irradiation of U-10Zr Metallic Fuel at a Very Low Burnup

  • Guo, Haibing;Zhou, Wei;Sun, Yong;Qian, Dazhi;Ma, Jimin;Leng, Jun;Huo, Heyong;Wang, Shaohua
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.734-743
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    • 2017
  • In order to investigate the swelling behavior and fuel-cladding interaction mechanism of U-10Zr alloy metallic fuel at very low burnup, an irradiation experiment was concisely designed and conducted on the China Mianyang Research Reactor. Two types of irradiation samples were designed for studying free swelling without restraint and the fuel-cladding interaction mechanism. A new bonding material, namely, pure aluminum powder, was used to fill the gap between the fuel slug and sample shell for reducing thermal resistance and allowing the expansion of the fuel slug. In this paper, the concise irradiation rig design is introduced, and the neutronic and thermal-hydraulic analyses, which were carried out mainly using MCNP (Monte Carlo N-Particle) and FLUENT codes, are presented. Out-of-pile tests were conducted prior to irradiation to verify the manufacturing quality and hydraulic performance of the rig. Nondestructive postirradiation examinations using cold neutron radiography technology were conducted to check fuel cladding integrity and swelling behavior. The results of the preliminary examinations confirmed the safety and effectiveness of the design.

Investigating Heavy Water Zero Power Reactors with a New Core Configuration Based on Experiment and Calculation Results

  • Nasrazadani, Zahra;Salimi, Raana;Askari, Afrooz;Khorsandi, Jamshid;Mirvakili, Mohammad;Mashayekh, Mohammad
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.49 no.1
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    • pp.1-5
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    • 2017
  • The heavy water zero power reactor (HWZPR), which is a critical assembly with a maximum power of 100 W, can be used in different lattice pitches. The last change of core configuration was from a lattice pitch of 18-20 cm. Based on regulations, prior to the first operation of the reactor, a new core was simulated with MCNP (Monte Carlo N-Particle)-4C and WIMS (Winfrith Improved Multigroup Scheme)-CITATON codes. To investigate the criticality of this core, the effective multiplication factor ($K_{eff}$) versus heavy water level, and the critical water level were calculated. Then, for safety considerations, the reactivity worth of $D_2O$, the reactivity worth of safety and control rods, and temperature reactivity coefficients for the fuel and the moderator, were calculated. The results show that the relevant criteria in the safety analysis report were satisfied in the new core. Therefore, with the permission of the reactor safety committee, the first criticality operation was conducted, and important physical parameters were measured experimentally. The results were compared with the corresponding values in the original core.

Wind-excited stochastic vibration of long-span bridge considering wind field parameters during typhoon landfall

  • Ge, Yaojun;Zhao, Lin
    • Wind and Structures
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.421-441
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    • 2014
  • With the assistance of typhoon field data at aerial elevation level observed by meteorological satellites and wind velocity and direction records nearby the ground gathered in Guangzhou Weather Station between 1985 and 2001, some key wind field parameters under typhoon climate in Guangzhou region were calibrated based on Monte-Carlo stochastic algorithm and Meng's typhoon numerical model. By using Peak Over Threshold method (POT) and Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD), Wind field characteristics during typhoons for various return periods in several typical engineering fields were predicted, showing that some distribution rules in relation to gradient height of atmosphere boundary layer, power-law component of wind profile, gust factor and extreme wind velocity at 1-3s time interval are obviously different from corresponding items in Chinese wind load Codes. In order to evaluate the influence of typhoon field parameters on long-span flexible bridges, 1:100 reduced-scale wind field of type B terrain was reillustrated under typhoon and normal conditions utilizing passive turbulence generators in TJ-3 wind tunnel, and wind-induced performance tests of aero-elastic model of long-span Guangzhou Xinguang arch bridge were carried out as well. Furthermore, aerodynamic admittance function about lattice cross section in mid-span arch lib under the condition of higher turbulence intensity of typhoon field was identified via using high-frequency force-measured balance. Based on identified aerodynamic admittance expressions, Wind-induced stochastic vibration of Xinguang arch bridge under typhoon and normal climates was calculated and compared, considering structural geometrical non-linearity, stochastic wind attack angle effects, etc. Thus, the aerodynamic response characteristics under typhoon and normal conditions can be illustrated and checked, which are of satisfactory response results for different oncoming wind velocities with resemblance to those wind tunnel testing data under the two types of climate modes.

Sensitivity and uncertainty quantification of neutronic integral data in the TRIGA Mark II research reactor

  • Makhloul, M.;Boukhal, H.;Chakir, E.;El Bardouni, T.;Lahdour, M.;Kaddour, M.;Ahmed, Abdulaziz;Arectout, A.;El Yaakoubi, H.
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.54 no.2
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    • pp.523-531
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    • 2022
  • In order to study the sensitivity and the uncertainty of the Moroccan research reactor TRIGA Mark II, a model of this reactor has been developed in our ERSN laboratory for use with the N-Particle MCNP Monte Carlo transport codes (version 6). In this article, the sensitivities of the effective multiplication factor of this reactor are evaluated using the ENDF/B-VII.0, ENDF/B-VII.1 and JENDL-4.0 libraries and in 44 energy groups, for the cross sections of the fuel (U-235 and U-238) and the moderator (H-1 and O-16). However, the quantification of the uncertainty of the nuclear data is performed using the nuclear code NJOY99 for the generation and processing of covariance matrices. On the one hand, the highest uncertainty deviations, calculated using the ENDFB-VII.1 and JENDL4.0 evaluations, are 2275, 386 and 330 pcm respectively for the reactions U235(n, f), $ U_{235}(n\bar{\nu})$ and H1(n, γ). On the other hand, these differences are very small for the neutron reactions of O-16 and U-238. Regarding the neutron spectra, in CT-mid plane, they are very close for the three evaluations (ENDF/B-VII.0, ENDF/B-VII.1 and JENDL-4.0). These spectra present two peaks (thermal and fission) around the energies 0.05 eV and 1 MeV.

Time Dependent Evaluation of Corrosion Free Life of Concrete Tunnel Structures Based on the Reliability Theory (해저 콘크리트 구조물의 신뢰성 이론에 의한 시간 의존적 내구수명 평가)

  • Pack, Seung Woo;Jung, Min Sun
    • Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.142-154
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    • 2011
  • This study predicted the probability of corrosion initiation of reinforced concrete tunnel boxes structures using the Monte Carlo Simulation. For the inner wall and outer wall in the tunnel boxes, exposed to airborne chloride ion and seawater directly respectively, statistical values of parameters like diffusion coefficient D, surface chloride content $C_s$, cover depth c, and the chloride threshold level $C_{lim}$ were examined from experiment or literature review. Their average values accounted for $3.77{\times}10^{-12}m^2/s$, 3.0% by weight of cement, 94.7mm and 45.5mm for outer wall and inner wall, respectively, and 0.69% by weight of cement for D, $C_s$, c, and $C_{lim}$, respectively. With these parametric values, the distribution of chloride contents at rebar with time and the probability of corrosion initiation of the tunnel boxes, inner wall and outer wall, was examined by considering time dependency of chloride transport. From the examination, the histogram of chloride contents at rebar is closer to a gamma distribution, and the mean value increases with time, while the coefficient of variance decreases with time. It was found that the probability of corrosion initiation and the time to corrosion were dependent on the time dependency of chloride transport. Time independent model predicted time to corrosion initiation of inner wall and outer wall as 8 and 12 years, respectively, while 178 and 283 years of time to corrosion was calculated by time dependent model for inner wall and outer wall, respectively. For time independent model, the probability of corrosion at 100 years of exposure for inner wall and outer wall was ranged 59.5 and 95.5%, respectively, while time dependent model indicated 2.9 and 0.2% of the probability corrosion, respectively. Finally, impact of $C_{lim}$, including values specified in current codes, on the probability of corrosion initiation and corrosion free life is discussed.

Resistance Factor and Target Reliability Index Calculation of Static Design Methods for Driven Steel Pipe Pile in Gwangyang (광양지역에 적합한 항타강관말뚝의 목표신뢰성지수 및 저항계수 산정)

  • Kim, Hyeon-Tae;Kim, Daehyeon;Lim, Jae-Choon;Park, Kyung-Ho;Lee, Ik-Hyo
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.16 no.12
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    • pp.8128-8139
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    • 2015
  • Recently, the necessity of developing the load and resistance factor design(LRFD) for soft ground improvement method has been raised, since the limit state design is requested as international technical standard for the foundation of structures. In this study, to develop LRFD codes for foundation structures in Korea, target reliability index and resistance factor for static bearing capacity of driven steel pipe piles were calibrated in the framework of reliability theory. The 16 data(in Gwangyang) and the 57 data(Korea Institute of Construction Technology, 2008) sets of static load test and soil property tests conducted in the whole domestic area were collected along with available subsurface investigation results. The resistance bias factors were evaluated for the tow static design methods by comparing the representative measured bearing capacities with the expected design values. Reliability analysis was performed by two types of advanced methods : the First Order Reliability Method (FORM), and the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method using resistance bias factor statistics. As a result, when target reliability indices of the driven pipe pile were selected as 2.0, 2.33, 2.5, resistance factor of two design methods for SPT N at pile tip less than 50 were evaluated as 0.611~0.684, 0.537~0.821 respectively, and STP N at pile tip more than 50 were evaluated as 0.545~0.608, 0.643~0.749 respectively. The result from this research will be useful for developing various foundations and soil structures under LRFD.

A Customized Cancer Radiation Treatment Planning Simulation (ccRTPs) System via Web and Network (웹과 네트워크 기술을 이용한 환자 맞춤식 암치료 계획 시뮬레이션 시스템)

  • Khm, O-Yeon
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.144-152
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    • 2006
  • The telemedicine using independent client-server system via networks can provide high quality normalized services to many hospitals, specifically to local/rural area hospitals. This will eventually lead to a decreased medical cost because the centralized institute can handle big computer hardware systems and complicated software systems efficiently and economically, Customized cancer radiation treatment planning for each patient Is very useful for both a patient and a doctor because it makes possible for the most effective treatment with the least possible dose to patient. Radiation planners know that too small a dose to the tumor can result in recurrence of the cancer, while too large a dose to healthy tissue can cause complications or even death. The best solution is to build an accurate planning simulation system to provide better treatment strategies based on each patient's computerized tomography (CT) image. We are developing a web-based and a network-based customized cancer radiation therapy simulation system consisting of four Important computer codes; a CT managing code for preparing the patients target data from their CT image files, a parallel Monte Carlo high-energy beam code (PMCEPT code) for calculating doses against the target generated from the patient CT image, a parallel linear programming code for optimizing the treatment plan, and scientific data visualization code for efficient pre/post evaluation of the results. The whole softwares will run on a high performance Beowulf PC cluster of about 100-200 CPUs. Efficient management of the hardware and software systems is not an easy task for a hospital. Therefore, we integrated our system into the client-sewer system via network or web and provide high quality normalized services to many hospitals. Seamless communication with doctors is maintained via messenger function of the server-client system.

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