A Stylized 3-D Benchmark Problem Set Based on the Pin-Fueled SmAHTR

Abstract

In this paper, a set of stylized numerical benchmark problems is developed. These problems are based on the Oak Ridge National Laboratory preconceptual design of a fluoride-salt-cooled small modular advanced high-temperature reactor, or SmAHTR, that uses prismatic fuel assemblies with cylindrical pins/rods containing tri-isotropic fuel particles. A detailed description of the benchmark problems is achieved by closing several outstanding design gaps and modifying the coolant channel shape to reduce bypass flow for improved coolant and fuel temperature distributions. The benchmark problems, while stylized, retain the important thermal-hydraulic and reactor physics features (e.g., fuel particles) necessary for benchmarking tools for reactor core analysis.

In addition to the full description, detailed reference results such as the eigenvalue (k_eff) and fuel pin and assembly-averaged fission density distributions are provided for five benchmark problems: full-length fuel assemblies with control rods fully withdrawn and inserted, and full core with all control rods withdrawn, all control rods fully inserted, and some control rods fully inserted (near-critical core). The provided results are calculated using the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MCNP.

Keywords:

• Benchmark problem description
• small modular advanced high-temperature reactor
• fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor
• pin-type fuel

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Acknowledgments

This research is being performed using funding received from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy’s Nuclear Energy University Program. The first author’s work is supported under the DOE Integrated University Program Graduate Fellowship.

Notes

^a 1 mk = 100 pcm.