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Monte Carlo Modeling of Isotopic Changes of Actinides in Nuclear Fuel of APR1400 Pressurized Water Reactor

Author

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  • Mikołaj Oettingen

    (Department of Nuclear Energy and Radiochemistry, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Krakow, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland)

  • Juyoul Kim

    (Department of NPP Engineering, KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, 658-91 Haemaji-ro, Seosaeng-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 45014, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the isotopic changes in nuclear fuel during the first reactor cycle of the Korean Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR1400). The neutron transport and burnup calculations were performed using the Monte Carlo continuous energy burnup code—MCB. The three-dimensional numerical model consisting of the reactor pressure vessel with core internals was developed using available geometrical and material data as well as the reactor’s operating conditions. The reactor core was divided into 11 axial and 22 radial burnup zones in order to recreate the spatial distribution of the fuel burnup. The isotopic changes due to the nuclear transmutations and decays were calculated in each burnup zone until the desired average burnup of 17.571 GWd/tHM int was reached. The calculations include changes in the boric acid concentration at defined time steps and the burnout of the gadolinia burnable absorber embedded in the nuclear fuel. This study shows the spatial distribution of minor and major actinides at the end of the reactor cycle as well as the depletion of uranium, the build-up of plutonium, and the formation of neptunium, americium, and curium during the reactor’s operation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikołaj Oettingen & Juyoul Kim, 2024. "Monte Carlo Modeling of Isotopic Changes of Actinides in Nuclear Fuel of APR1400 Pressurized Water Reactor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:19:p:4864-:d:1487642
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mikołaj Oettingen & Juyoul Kim, 2023. "Detection of Numerical Power Shift Anomalies in Burnup Modeling of a PWR Reactor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Il Suk Lee & Dong Hyeog Yoon & Young Seok Bang & Tae Hoon Kim & Yong Chan Kim, 2021. "Assessment of Realistic Departure from Nucleate Boiling Ratio (DNBR) Considering Uncertainty Quantification of Core Flow Asymmetry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, March.
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    Keywords

    burnup; APR1400; Monte Carlo; PWR; concentration; uranium;
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