Reactor Physics,

Thermal Hydraulics and

Neutron Transport
Associate Professor Dr.Sunchai Nilsuwankosit
Department of Nuclear Technology
Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University
Reactor Physics
Neutron Fluxes in Reactor

Neutron Flux
by transport theory
Neutron Flux
by diffusion theory

e1

e2

e1
extended length predicted
by transport theory = 0.71
tr

e2
extended length predicted
by diffusion theory = (2/3)
tr

m
o
d
e
r
a
t
o
r

m
o
d
e
r
a
t
o
r

Reactor Physics
Fast and Thermal Fluxes in Reactor

fast flux
fuel fuel
m
o
d
e
r
a
t
o
r

m
o
d
e
r
a
t
o
r

fuel
thermal flux
Reactor Physics
Fast and Thermal Fluxes in Reactor

fast flux
thermal flux
core
reflector reflector
Reactor Physics
Reflector Saving
The size of a reactor with the reflector installed can be much
smaller than that of a reactor with the same material but without
the reflector. The reduction in size is called the reflector saving.
For the reflector that is of the same material as the moderator,
the reflector saving o of a 1-D reactor can be expressed as



where W is the size of the reactor core and T is the thickness of
the reflector.
tanh .
T
W
W
o =
<< How to calculate for o? >>
Reactor Physics
Importance
As the neutron fluxes at various locations affect the criticality of
the reactor and its power producing capability differently, a
parameter to identify the level of effect for the neutron flux at a
specific location is defined. Such parameter is called importance
function or adjoint flux and is denoted as |
-
where

Ks is the multiplication factor for an isentropic neutron source at
the given location.
In general, the reactivity change at one location can be
estimated with the importance as
<< How to calculate for importance function? >>
* *
sample sample
* *
reactor reactor
.
a a
a f
dV dV
k
k
k dV dV
| | | |

| | |u |
E E
A
A = = =
E E
} }
} }
*
,
1
s
s
k
k
| =

Reactor Physics
Feedback Coefficient
It is often found that a change in the configuration or
the condition of the reactor can largely affect the
criticality of the reactor. In such case, if t is the
parameter presenting the configuration or the condition
that is changed, the feedback coefficient can be
described as
( )
.
k
f t
t
c
=
c
<< What is the feedback coefficient due to void fraction? >>
Thermal Hydraulics
Power Density
The amount of energy generated per unit volume per unit
time due to the fission in the reactor is called power
density and is described as
Heat Transfer
Conduction

Convection

Conservation of Energy
.
f
p e | = E
k
q k T
''
= V
c
q vC T
''
= A
( )
k c
T
C q q p q
t

c
'' ''
= V- + +
c
Thermal Hydraulics
Temperature Distribution in the Fuel
r
1
r
2
r
3

T
max

T
0

Fuel Meat
Fuel Clad
F
u
e
l

G
a
p

<< How to calculate for T? >>
Thermal Hydraulics
Temperature
Distribution in
Coolant along
the Channel
( )
h s
q h T T
''
=
Heat flux across
the interface
x
0
T
0
T
b
Flow Scheme
Single Phase (liq.)
Two Phase
Single Phase (vap.)
Bubbly Flow
Droplet Flow
Transition Flow
Direction of Flow
Thermal Hydraulics
Safety Parameters
CHF Critical Heat Flux
DNB Departure of Nucleate Boiling
Burnout Condition where the heating surface has no
contact with the liquid coolant
Hot Spot The condition defined for the thermal safety of a
reactor.
Nuclear Hot Spot
Safety condition due to the variation in neutron fluxes.
Engineering Hot Spot
Safety condition due to the mechanics and the flow distributions.
Thermal Hydraulics
Hot Spot Factors
F
c
factor to be considered for coolant temperature rising

F
f
factor to be considered for temperature rising across the interface

F
e
factor to be considered for temperature rising over fuel element
Nuclear Hot Spots
Neutron Disribution
Fuel Concentration
Engineering Hot Spots
Fuel Element Warpage
Fuel Element thermal Conductivity
Fuel Element Dimensions
Flow Distribution
Heat Transfer Coefficient
Neutron Transport
Transport Equation

n n d
J vn
J vn
J v n d
J d
v n d
J d
|
O
O O
O O
O
O
O
O
= O
=
= O
= O O
= O
= O
= -O O
}
}
}
}
}
s f
t
n
J S L
t
S
L J
u |
O
O O O
O
O
O O
c
= V- +
c
( = E + E

= E
s f t
n
J J d
t
u |
O O
O
c
(
( = V- + E + E E O


c
}
Neutron Transport
Transport Equation
| |
s f t
s f t
s f s a
f a
n
J J d
t
J vn d
J
J
u |
u |
| u | |
u | |
O O
O
O
c
(
( = V- + E + E E O


c
( = V- + E + E E O

= V- +E + E E +E
= V- + E E
}
}
From Transport Equation to Diffusion Equation
J D | = V
Ficks law
2
1
f a
D
v t
|
| u | |
c
= V + E E
c
Diffusion
Coefficient
1
3
2
3
, 1
,
tr tr tr
tr t s A
D

= = E
E = E E =
<< How is D calculated? >>