05 Nuclear fuels (scientific, technical)
05/01015 Identification of reactor internals' vibration
modes of a Korean standard PWR using structural modeling
and neutron noise analysis
Park, J. el al. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2003, 43, (1-4), 177-186.
The vibration characteristics of a Korean standard P W R reactor
internals have been estimated through a three-dimensional finite
element analyses and verified by using the mode separated power
spectral density functions obtained from the ex-core neutron noise
signals. Also the natural vibration modes of the fuel assembly have
been identified measuring both the ex-core and the in-core neutron
noise signals, which are close to each other. As a result, the
fundamental bending mode frequency of the reactor internal structure
is found to be around 8 Hz and the fundamental shell mode frequency
14.5 Hz, respectively. It is also shown that the fundamental bending
mode frequency of the fuel assembly is 2.3 Hz and the 2nd bending
mode frequency 5.8 Hz, respectively. These results can be used for the
supplements of tile Korean standard PWR's CVAP (Comprehensive
Vibration Assessment Program) data.
05101016 Lesson learnt from mathematical modeling of
primary circuit of VVER 440/213 reactors
Pecinka, L. et al. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2003, 43, (1-4), 167-175.
For the analysis of flow induced vibrations of a VVER 440/213 unit, a
generalized model has been developed which consists of the reactor as
a lumped mass model with 77 degrees of freedom. Linking of the loops
to the reactor pressure vessel is modelled using translational and
rotational stiffnesses. Main results obtained: eigenfrequencies and
mode shapes of the whole system and dynamic response of the whole
system generated by the main circulating pump pressure pulsations.
05•01017 Lessons learned with vibration monitoring
systems in German nuclear power plants
Kolbasseff, A. and Sunder, R. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2003, 43, (1-
4), 159-165.
Compared to international standards, vibration diagnosis of German
pressurized water reactors ranks high. Based on the Condition
Monitoring System COMOS a lot of operational experiences could
be gathered meanwhile and led to knowledge of long-term experiences.
Meanwhile a successor system called 'COMOSnt' is developed and
installed in several plants. After a brief description of COMOS system
features, a case study based on P W R internal vibrations is presented.
In German BWRs, until now no multi-sensorial vibration monitoring
comparable to PWR standards is established. Reasons for this can be
related to constructional characteristics, differences in neutron-flux
instrumentation and variable speed-driven operating mode of reactor
recirculation pumps. However, current issues with regard to core
internals were reasons to investigate BWR vibration monitoring
principles, taking into account for example vibration sensors at reactor
recirculation pumps, self-powered neutron detectors and aceeler-
ometers from loose parts monitoring. Noise analyses of incore-neutron
flux signals showing specific modes of fuel assembly vibrations are
presented in detail. The correlation analyses could be verified by means
of accompanying structure model calculations. At present, specific
systems for recirculation pump monitoring are running in three BWRs,
an overall vibration monitoring concept including core internals is
tested in a reference plant.
05/01018 Materials for high performance light water
reactors
Ehrlich, K. et al. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2004, 327, (2-3), 140
147.
A state-of-the-art study was performed to investigate the operational
conditions for in-core and out-of-core materials in a high performance
light water reactor (HPLWR) and to evaluate the potential of existing
structural materials for application in fuel elements, core structures
and out-of-core components. In the conventional parts of a HPLWR-
plant the approved materials of supercritical fossil power plants
(SCFPP) can be used for given temperatures (_<600°C) and pressures
(~250 bar). These are either commercial ferritic/martensitic or
austenitic stainless steels. Taking the conditions of existing light water
reactors (LWR) into account an assessment of potential cladding
materials was made, based on existing creep-rupture data, an extensive
analysis of the corrosion in conventional steam power plants and
available information on material behaviour under irradiation. As a
major result it is shown that for an assumed maximum temperature of
650°C not only Ni-alloys, but also austenitic stainless steels can be used
as cladding materials.
05/01019 On-line neuro-expert monitoring system for
Borssele Nuclear Power Plant
Nabeshima, K. et al. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2003, 43, (1-4), 397-
404.
A new method for an on-line monitoring system for the nuclear power
plants has been developed utilizing the neural networks and the expert
system. The integration of them is expected to enhance a substantial
156 Fuel and Energy Abstracts May 2005
potential of the functionality as operators support. The recurrent
neural network and the feed-forward neural network with adaptive
learning are selected for the plant modelling and anomaly detection
because of the high capability of modelling for dynamic behaviour. The
expert system is used as a decision agent, which works on the
information space of both the neural networks and the human
operators. The information of other sensory signals is also fed to the
expert system, together with the outputs that the neural networks
generate from the measured plant signals. The expert system can treat
almost all known correlation between plant status patterns and
operation modes as a priori set of rules. From the off-line test at
Borssele Nuclear Power Plant (PWR 480 MWe) in the Netherlands, it
was shown that the neuro-expert system successfully monitored the
plant status. The expert system worked satisfactorily in diagnosing the
system status by using the outputs of the neural networks and a priori
knowledge base from the P W R simulator. The electric power
coefficient is simultaneously monitored from the measured reactive
and active electric power signals.
05101020 Qualitative analysis of the SN approximations of
the transport equation and combined conduction-radiation
heat transfer problem in a slab
Vilhena, M. T. et al. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2003, 42, (4), 427-437.
A review is presented on the recent work carried out by the research
group on mathematical aspects of the existence and uniqueness of
solutions of the one-dimensional steady-state transport equation as
well as an analytical study of the non-linear radiative transfer equation
in a slab. Dependence on control parameters about the solutions of the
one-dimensional SN, approximations of the transport equation is also
addressed.
05101021 Reactivity monitoring in ADS, application to the
MYRRHA ADS project
Baeten, P. and Abderrahim, H. A. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2003,
43, (1-4), 413-419.
Monitoring of reactivity in an ADS should be performed on-line with a
simple, accurate and robust technique. Within the range of exper-
imental reactor techniques, no single technique can be selected which
meet these requirements. Therefore a combination of different
techniques has to be chosen in a way that various off-line techniques
serve as a calibration method for the on-line measurement technique.
As an on-line measurement technique, the current-to-flux reactivity
indicator is the most simple and robust solution. The current-to-flux
reactivity indicator is based on the fact that in a sub-critical multiplying
medium with a driving source the flux level is proportional to the
driving source intensity, hence the beam current, and the reactivity
level. However, since the proportionality constant depends on a
number of core-dependent parameters a n d detector characteristics,
this current-to-flux indicator has to be calibrated on a regular basis.
For this calibration, one could benefit from the occurrence of
accelerator beam trips to determine the reactivity level in dollars by
means of a prompt jump analysis of the flux level change. Hence, the
prompt jump reactivity indicator could act as a first calibration tool of
the current-to-flux indicator. Since the prompt jump indicator still
relies on the value for the effective delayed n e u t r o n fraction to
determine reactivity level, complementary techniques have to be used
to obtain a more accurate determination of the reactivity. Techniques
based on reactor noise methods such as the RAPJA-technique, which is
a combination of the Rossi-Alpha method and a Prompt Jump Analysis
can be used in this respect. In the future the bi-speetral ratio from the
Cf-source driven noise analysis could be used for this purpose:
05/01022 Searching for full power control rod patterns in a
boiling water reactor using genetic algorithms
Montes, J. et al. Annals of Nuclear Energy, 2004, 31, (16), 1939-1954.
One of the most important questions related to both safety and
economic aspects in a nuclear power reactor operation, is without any
doubt its reactivity control. During normal operation of a boiling water
reactor, the reactivity control of its core is strongly determined by
control rods patterns efficiency. In this paper, G A C R P system is
proposed based on the concepts of genetic algorithms for full power
control rod patterns search. This system was carried out using LVNPP
transition cycle characteristics, being applied too to an equilibrium
cycle. Several operation scenarios, including core water flow variation
throughout the cycle and different target axial power distributions, are
considered. Genetic algorithm fitness function includes reactor security
parameters, such as MLHGR, MCPR, reactor kerr and axial power
density.
05/01023 Stochastic techniques for the control and
surveillance of a modular pebble bed reactor
Kemeny, L. G. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2003, 43, (1-4), 445-452.
This paper represents the first of a series of publications describing
work in progress on the research, design and testing of a control and
surveillance system for a Modular Pebble Bed Reactor. The scope of