Journal article 223 views
Dynamic modeling of reactivity control systems for scram reliability assessment in fast reactors under seismic conditions
Matt Bonney 
,
Maxime Zabiégo
,
Maxime Zabiégo
Nuclear Engineering and Design, Volume: 361, Start page: 110546
Swansea University Author:
Matt Bonney
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110546
Abstract
Reactivity Control Systems (i.e., control rods and the associated drive mechanisms) are essential components to ensure the safe operation of nuclear reactors. Their design is particularly challenging during seismic events, due to the large deformations these impose on the core, which have the potent...
| Published in: | Nuclear Engineering and Design |
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| ISSN: | 0029-5493 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2020
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65036 |
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| Abstract: |
Reactivity Control Systems (i.e., control rods and the associated drive mechanisms) are essential components to ensure the safe operation of nuclear reactors. Their design is particularly challenging during seismic events, due to the large deformations these impose on the core, which have the potential of hindering the insertion of the neutron absorbing material and delaying reactor shutdown. In order to assist the design process, the PIRAT toolbox is currently being developed for analytical based modeling of such systems. The present paper focuses on the development of the dynamic module DEBSE, and its application to Fast Reactor systems. Preliminary computations, based on simplified models and excitation that are progressively enriched to represent realistic situations, emphasize the role of dynamic effects. These computations show both situations where the static analysis is sufficient and insufficient to assess scram reliability due to their conservatism. While there are some issues with the numerical conditioning for this system, the results shows that for the most realistic seismic excitation available, safe shutdown is expected to occur with dynamic amplification occurring after the shutdown. This work also indicates possible causes to the ill-conditioning and what parameters are determined based on expert opinion that can be adjusted to better condition the equations of motion. Overall, this work shows the progress of PIRAT and shows examples of how it can be used for reactivity control system design. |
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| Keywords: |
Reactivity control system, Sodium-cooled fast reactor, Mechanical contact, PIRAT, Insertion reliability, Seismic safety |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Start Page: |
110546 |