Exact Monte Carlo calculation method for K-eigenvalue change using perturbation source method

ABSTRACT

The ‘perturbation source method’ (PSM) is a Monte Carlo perturbation method that calculates an exact k-eigenvalue change caused by cross-section changes. Although the PSM, which can consider the effect of fission source perturbation, was proposed long ago, it has garnered minimal interest as a Monte Carlo perturbation method. The applicability of the PSM has not been thoroughly elucidated hitherto. This study revisits the PSM and reviews the associated Monte Carlo algorithm. Some improvements have been made to improve the efficiency. The PSM is applied to some numerical tests that involve the replacement of a fuel material with light water, a density change in a water hole, an interface shift between a fuel and reflector, and an external boundary extension. The performance of the PSM for these tests is compared with that of another exact Monte Carlo perturbation method, which is the correlated sampling method. The PSM can yield an accurate k-eigenvalue change even for large cross-section changes such as the replacement of a material with another material. The PSM used in this study is the exact method except for the approximation related to the spatial discretization for fission source perturbation. Furthermore, it exhibits superiority in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency, particularly for large perturbations added in a small region.

KEYWORDS:

• Monte Carlo
• perturbation
• reactivity
• neutron
• cross section

Disclosure statement

The authors report no potential conflict of interest.