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Abstract
A comparison of a point-kinetics calculation and a full three-dimensional thermal-hydraulic/kinetics calculation using TRAC-PF1/NEM is presented. The coupled TRAC-PF1/NEM methodology uses version 5.4 of the TRAC-PF1/MOD2 code, developed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and a special kinetics module, developed at The Pennsylvania State University and based on the nodal expansion method. Cross sections are obtained from two-dimensional tables generated using CASMO-3.
The results of the analysis show that the point-kinetics calculation is conservative and predicts a return to power. The three-dimensional analysis shows no return to power despite an extended overfeeding of the affected generator with feedwater. The difference is believed to be caused by the inability of the standard point-kinetics method to properly account for the moderator density feedback, local effects, and flux redistribution, which occur during the transient.