Difference between revisions of "Automated burnup sequence"

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== Input ==
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== Setting up the coefficient matrix ==
  
=== Setting up the coefficient matrix ===
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== Branches ==
  
=== Branches ===
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== Variables ==
 
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=== Variables ===
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== Output ==
 
== Output ==

Revision as of 21:55, 19 February 2016

Homogenized group constants form the input data for core-level fuel cycle and transient simulator calculations. The data is parametrized according to discrete state-points, which are defined by the local thermal hydraulic conditions together with reactivity control. The process of group constant generation must cover the full range of operating states within the reactor core, which often requires repeating the assembly-level calculation thousands of times. Since the local operating conditions inside a fuel assembly also affect how the materials are depleted, the state-points by which the data is parametrized are not completely independent. The calculations are instead divided into:

  1. Branch variations, taking into account momentary changes in the operating conditions, such as fuel temperature, moderator density and temperature, boron concentration and insertion of control rods
  2. History variations, taking into account conditions that persist for an extended period of time, such as moderator temperature and density, boron concentration and positioning of control rods

In practice, the procedure involves burnup calculations covering all assembly types and history variations. Branch variations are accounted for by performing restart calculations for each burnup point, varying the local operating conditions accordingly.

Serpent provides an automated burnup sequence, capable of performing branch variations for a single history run. The procedure works by first running a burnup calculation, after which a number of restarts are performed for selected burnup points. For each restart the code invokes a number of user-defined variations in the input, corresponding to the branches to different state points. The branches are defined using the branch card, and the combination of variations by the coefficient matrix. The group constant data is collected into a separate output file easily read by post-processing scripts. The input and output formats are described below with examples.

For the moment the automated burnup sequence is limited to performing branch variations, and variations in histories must be handled by writing separate input files.


Setting up the coefficient matrix

Branches

Variables

Output