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14 Reactivity Coefficients

The document discusses reactivity coefficients in nuclear reactors, focusing on how various parameters like fuel, coolant, and moderator temperatures influence reactivity and K-eff. It defines reactivity coefficients mathematically and explains the effects of temperature changes, particularly emphasizing the Doppler broadening of absorption resonances in 238U, which leads to decreased reactivity with increased fuel temperature. The document also highlights the importance of understanding which parameters are varied and which are kept constant during analysis.

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Alessandro Da Cruz Goncalves
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9 views14 pages

14 Reactivity Coefficients

The document discusses reactivity coefficients in nuclear reactors, focusing on how various parameters like fuel, coolant, and moderator temperatures influence reactivity and K-eff. It defines reactivity coefficients mathematically and explains the effects of temperature changes, particularly emphasizing the Doppler broadening of absorption resonances in 238U, which leads to decreased reactivity with increased fuel temperature. The document also highlights the importance of understanding which parameters are varied and which are kept constant during analysis.

Uploaded by

Alessandro Da Cruz Goncalves
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reactivity Coefficients

Reactivity Effects

The macroscopic cross sections can change as a consequence


of different parameters and, in turn, induce a change in K-eff
and hence in reactivity.

The usual parameters that influence the reactivity are:

 Fuel Temperature
 Coolant Temperature
 Moderator Temperature
 Coolant Density
Definition of Reactivity Coefficients

 Consider we keep all the reactor parameters constant, with the


exception of one, say the fuel temperature.
 This is not always possible, as a variation in fuel temperature
will induce a variation in coolant temperature, but let us
assume we can do it.
 Consider we plot the reactivity as a function of the varying
parameter (in our case, the fuel temperature).
 (T f )
 We can also plot the reactivity change  (T f )   (T f )   (T f 0 )
where Tf0 is the reference fuel temperature.
 This is called the reactivity effect of fuel temperature.
d (T f )
 
 We can also calculate and plot T f
dT f
 This is called the reactivity coefficient of the fuel temperature.
Reactivity Effects and Coefficients - Important Facts

It is important to keep in mind what we vary (one or several


parameters) and what we keep constant

 For example:
o Vary the moderator temperature while keeping its
density constant
o Vary the moderator temperature and density to
correspond to the temperature.
 Other example:
o Power reactivity effect and coefficient
o In this case all changes that stem from the power
increase are accounted for (fuel temperature, coolant
temperature, coolant density, moderator temperature,
moderator density).
Mathematical Expressions of Reactivity Coefficients

Let p be the parameter that is being varied, all others being


kept constant.

We define the reactivity coefficient of parameter P as:

d ( p)
P 
dp
Equivalent definition:

d ( p ) d  1  1 dk ( p )
P   1    2
dp dp  k ( p )  k ( p ) dp
Approximate Expressions of Reactivity Coefficients for
Near-Critical Reactors

For k  1

1 dk ( p ) 1 dk ( p )
P  2 
k ( p ) dp k ( p ) dp

The last form can also be expressed as:

lnk ( p )
1 dk ( p ) d

k ( p ) dp dp
Fuel Temperature Reactivity Effect and Coefficient

 Assume only the fuel temperature changes


 Due mostly to Doppler broadening of absorption
resonances of 238U. (A resonance is a sharp peak in the
energy dependence of the microscopic cross section at a
certain energy Eres.)
 Reactivity decreases with increasing fuel temperature
 Good safety feature. If reactor power increases
accidentally, the reactivity decreases bringing the power
back down.
Doppler Effect for Neutron Capture

Explanation of the Doppler Broadening of Resonances


 The cross section depends on the relative speed of the
neutron with respect to the nucleus

 As nuclei move, neutrons with energy outside the


resonance range get to have a relative velocity
corresponding to the resonance range.
CANDU Fuel Temperature Effect
CANDU Coolant temperature Effect
CANDU Moderator Temperature Effect
CANDU Coolant Density Effect

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