Neutronic Analysis For Nuclear Reactor Systems

This expanded new edition develops the theory of nuclear reactors from the fundamentals of fission to the operating characteristics of modern reactors. The first half of the book emphasizes reactor criticality analysis and all of the fundamentals that go into modern calculations. Simplified one group diffusion theory models are presented and extended into sophisticated multi-group transport theory models. The second half of the book deals with the two main topics of interest related to operating reactors - reactor kinetics/dynamics, and in-core fuel management. Additional chapters have been added to expand and bring the material up-to-date and include the utilization of more computer codes. Code models and detailed data sets are provided along with example problems making this a useful text for students and researchers wishing to develop an understanding of nuclear power and its implementation in today's modern energy spectrum. Covers the fundamentals of neutronic analysis for nuclear reactor systems to help understand nuclear reactor theory; Describes the benefits, uses, safety features, and challenges related to implementation of Small Modular Reactors; Provides examples, data sets, and code to assist the reader in obtaining mastery over the subjects.

This book covers the entire spectrum of the science and technology of nuclear reactor systems, from underlying physics, to next generation system applications and beyond. Beginning with neutron physics background and modeling of transport and diffusion, this self-contained learning tool progresses step-by-step to discussions of reactor kinetics, dynamics, and stability that will be invaluable to anyone with a college-level mathematics background wishing to develop an understanding of nuclear power. From fuels and reactions to full systems and plants, the author provides a clear picture of how nuclear energy works, how it can be optimized for safety and efficiency, and why it is important to the future.

This book is intended to provide an introduction to the basic principles of nuclear fission reactors for advanced undergraduate or graduate students of physics and engineering. The presentation is also suitable for physicists or engineers who are entering the nuclear power field without previous experience with nuclear reactors. No background knowledge is required beyond that typically acquired in the first two years of an undergraduate program in physics or engineering. Throughout, the emphasis is on explaining why particular reactor systems have evolved in the way they have, without going into great detail about reactor physics or methods of design analysis, which are already covered in a number of excellent specialist texts. The first two chapters serve as an introduction to the basic physics of the atom and the nucleus and to nuclear fission and the nuclear chain reaction. Chapter 3 deals with the fundamentals of nuclear reactor theory, covering neutron slowing down and the spatial dependence of the neutron flux in the reactor, based on the solution of the diffusion equations. The chapter includes a major section on reactor kinetics and control, including'tempera ture and void coefficients and xenon poisoning effects in power reactors. Chapter 4 describes various aspects offuel management and fuel cycles, while Chapter 5 considers materials problems for fuel and other constituents of the reactor. The processes of heat generation and removal are covered in Chapter 6.

Modelling of Nuclear Reactor Multiphysics: From Local Balance Equations to Macroscopic Models in Neutronics and Thermal-Hydraulics is an accessible guide to the advanced methods used to model nuclear reactor systems. The book addresses the frontier discipline of neutronic/thermal-hydraulic modelling of nuclear reactor cores, presenting the main techniques in a generic manner and for practical reactor calculations.The modelling of nuclear reactor systems is one of the most challenging tasks in complex system modelling, due to the many different scales and intertwined physical phenomena involved. The nuclear industry as well as the research institutes and universities heavily rely on the use of complex numerical codes. All the commercial codes are based on using different numerical tools for resolving the various physical fields, and to some extent the different scales, whereas the latest research platforms attempt to adopt a more integrated approach in resolving multiple scales and fields of physics. The book presents the main algorithms used in such codes for neutronic and thermal-hydraulic modelling, providing the details of the underlying methods, together with their assumptions and limitations. Because of the rapidly expanding use of coupled calculations for performing safety analyses, the analysists should be equally knowledgeable in all fields (i.e. neutron transport, fluid dynamics, heat transfer).The first chapter introduces the book’s subject matter and explains how to use its digital resources and interactive features. The following chapter derives the governing equations for neutron transport, fluid transport, and heat transfer, so that readers not familiar with any of these fields can comprehend the book without difficulty. The book thereafter examines the peculiarities of nuclear reactor systems and provides an overview of the relevant modelling strategies. Computational methods for neutron transport, first at the cell and assembly levels, then at the core level, and for one-/two-phase flow transport and heat transfer are treated in depth in respective chapters. The coupling between neutron transport solvers and thermal-hydraulic solvers for coarse mesh macroscopic models is given particular attention in a dedicated chapter. The final chapter summarizes the main techniques presented in the book and their interrelation, then explores beyond state-of-the-art modelling techniques relying on more integrated approaches. Covers neutron transport, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer, and their interdependence, in one reference Analyses the emerging area of multi-physics and multi-scale reactor modelling Contains 71 short videos explaining the key concepts and 77 interactive quizzes allowing the readers to test their understanding

This expanded new edition develops the theory of nuclear reactors from the fundamentals of fission to the operating characteristics of modern reactors. The first half of the book emphasizes reactor criticality analysis and all of the fundamentals that go into modern calculations. Simplified one group diffusion theory models are presented and extended into sophisticated multi-group transport theory models. The second half of the book deals with the two main topics of interest related to operating reactors – reactor kinetics/dynamics, and in-core fuel management. Additional chapters have been added to expand and bring the material up-to-date and include the utilization of more computer codes. Code models and detailed data sets are provided along with example problems making this a useful text for students and researchers wishing to develop an understanding of nuclear power and its implementation in today’s modern energy spectrum. Covers the fundamentals of neutronic analysis for nuclear reactor systems to help understand nuclear reactor theory; Describes the benefits, uses, safety features, and challenges related to implementation of Small Modular Reactors; Provides examples, data sets, and code to assist the reader in obtaining mastery over the subjects.

This revised text covers the fundamentals of thermodynamics required to understand electrical power generation systems and the application of these principles to nuclear reactor power plant systems. The book begins with fundamental definitions of units and dimensions, thermodynamic variables and the Laws of Thermodynamics progressing to sections on specific applications of the Brayton and Rankine cycles for power generation and projected reactor systems design issues. It is not a traditional general thermodynamics text, per se, but a practical thermodynamics volume intended to explain the fundamentals and apply them to the challenges facing actual nuclear power plants systems, where thermal hydraulics comes to play. There have been significant new findings for intercooled systems since the previous edition published and they will be included in this volume. New technology plans for using a Nuclear Air-Brayton as a storage system for a low carbon grid are presented along with updated component sizes and performance criteria for Small Modular Reactors. Written in a lucid, straight-forward style while retaining scientific rigor, the content is accessible to upper division undergraduate students and aimed at practicing engineers in nuclear power facilities and engineering scientists and technicians in industry, academic research groups, and national laboratories. The book is also a valuable resource for students and faculty in various engineering programs concerned with nuclear reactors.

Dr. Samuel Glasstone, the senior author of the previous editions of this book, was anxious to live until his ninetieth birthday, but passed away in 1986, a few months short of this milestone. I am grateful for the many years of stimulation received during our association, and in preparing this edition have attempted to maintain his approach. Previous editions of this book were intended to serve as a text for students and a reference for practicing engineers. Emphasis was given to the broad perspective, particularly for topics important to reactor design and oper ation, with basic coverage provided in such supporting areas as neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, and materials. This, the Fourth Edition, was prepared with these same general objectives in mind. However, during the past three decades, the nuclear industry and university educational programs have matured considerably, presenting some challenges in meeting the objec tives of this book. Nuclear power reactors have become much more complex, with an ac companying growth in supporting technology. University programs now offer separate courses covering such basic topics as reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, and materials. Finally, the general availability of inexpensive xv xvi Preface powerful micro-and minicomputers has transformed design and analysis procedures so that sophisticated methods are now commonly used instead of earlier, more approximate approaches.