TY - JOUR
T1 - Simulations of the source-range detector response for the fuel-loading process of the AP1000 cores
AU - Sun, Bin
AU - Li, Yunzhao
AU - Cao, Liangzhi
AU - Li, Xuesong
AU - Wu, Hongchun
AU - Shen, Wei
AU - Hao, Tengfei
AU - Wan, Chenghui
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - In this paper, the ex-core source-range detector response was simulated for AP1000 cores in its fuel-loading process by using a Monte Carlo code. Firstly, the current sensitivity coefficients of the ex-core source-range detectors have been calibrated by utilizing the experiments with single fuel assembly and the primary source loaded in the core. Secondly, both relative and absolute calibration methods have been applied and analyzed for the sensitivity coefficients calibration. Thirdly, the simulation values for the ex-core source-range response with fully loaded fuel have been validated by using the actual measurement of the first AP1000 cores in the world. Fourthly, the contribution of the 238U spontaneous fission to the ex-core source-range detector response has been studied. Through the numerical simulation results, the following observations can be obtained: 1) The relative calibration method is better than the absolute calibration method, especially when the ex-core source-range response is small. 2) Compared with the measurements, the relative deviation between the simulated and the measured values is within 14% for the two AP1000 cores at Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant. 3) The intensity of 238U spontaneous fission source accounts for 15% of the total source strength in the AP1000 core Unit 1, but the maximum change of response is only 0.02 cps, which is still insignificant for the ex-core detector response simulation in PWR.
AB - In this paper, the ex-core source-range detector response was simulated for AP1000 cores in its fuel-loading process by using a Monte Carlo code. Firstly, the current sensitivity coefficients of the ex-core source-range detectors have been calibrated by utilizing the experiments with single fuel assembly and the primary source loaded in the core. Secondly, both relative and absolute calibration methods have been applied and analyzed for the sensitivity coefficients calibration. Thirdly, the simulation values for the ex-core source-range response with fully loaded fuel have been validated by using the actual measurement of the first AP1000 cores in the world. Fourthly, the contribution of the 238U spontaneous fission to the ex-core source-range detector response has been studied. Through the numerical simulation results, the following observations can be obtained: 1) The relative calibration method is better than the absolute calibration method, especially when the ex-core source-range response is small. 2) Compared with the measurements, the relative deviation between the simulated and the measured values is within 14% for the two AP1000 cores at Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant. 3) The intensity of 238U spontaneous fission source accounts for 15% of the total source strength in the AP1000 core Unit 1, but the maximum change of response is only 0.02 cps, which is still insignificant for the ex-core detector response simulation in PWR.
KW - AP1000
KW - Fuel-loading process
KW - Source-Range Detector response
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85098091018
U2 - 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110995
DO - 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110995
M3 - 文章
AN - SCOPUS:85098091018
SN - 0029-5493
VL - 372
JO - Nuclear Engineering and Design
JF - Nuclear Engineering and Design
M1 - 110995
ER -