Uncertainty Quantification of Engineering Parameters for a Nuclear Reactor Loaded with Dispersed Fuel Particles

Yukun Li, Zhenping Chen (), Chao Yang (), Guocai Huang, Kekun Gao, Aikou Sun, Chengwei Liu and Zhiqiang Wu
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Yukun Li: School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Zhenping Chen: School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Chao Yang: School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Guocai Huang: School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Kekun Gao: School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Aikou Sun: School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Chengwei Liu: School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Zhiqiang Wu: School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Owing to their high intrinsic safety, dispersed fuel particles are an important fuel pattern for fourth-generation nuclear reactors. Due to the unique cladding layers and the random dispersion characteristics, dispersed fuel particles significantly differ from pressurized water reactors regarding operation-induced uncertainty. This study quantitatively analyzed overall uncertainty while considering a random distribution of dispersed fuel particles, material thickness, and fuel enrichment. The results demonstrated that, for all packing fractions, the uncertainty induced by the random dispersion of dispersed fuel particles was below 0.03%. For every packing fraction, the differences between the results obtained by the regular and the random distribution models increased, and then decreased, until reaching its maximum (1.297%) at 15%. K eff decreased as the radius of the UO 2 kernel increased; K eff increased as the thickness of the cladding layer increased; the uncertainty of K eff was 1.003% when a random distribution of particles, material thickness, and fuel enrichment were taken into consideration; the uncertainty of the power distribution of reactor core assemblies was maximized (1.495%) at the edge of the reactor core. Quantitative analysis of uncertainty provides references for the optimization of design and safety margin analysis for reactors.

Keywords: Monte Carlo; dispersed fuel particles; engineering parameters; uncertainty quantification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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