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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2009. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 331-360). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Dans ces travaux de thèse, la diffusion thermique des neutrons pour l’application aux réacteurs à eau légère a été étudiée. Le modèle de loi de diffusion thermique de l’hydrogène lié à la molécule d’eau de la bibliothèque de données nucléaires JEFF-3.1.1 est basée sur des mesures expérimentales réalisées dans les années soixante. La physique de diffusion de neutrons de cette bibliothèque a été comparée à un modèle basé sur les calculs de dynamique moléculaire développé au Centre Atomique de Bariloche (Argentine), à savoir le modèle CAB. L’impact de ces modèles a également été évalué sur le programme expérimental MISTRAL (configurations UOX et MOX) réalisé dans le réacteur de puissance nulle EOLE situé au CEA Cadarache (France). La contribution de la diffusion thermique des neutrons sur l’hydrogène dans l’eau a été quantifiée sur le calcul de la réactivité et sur l’erreur de calcul du coefficient de température isotherme (reactivity temperature Coefficient en anglais - RTC).Pour le réseau UOX, l’écart entre la réactivité calculée à 20 °C avec le modèle CAB et celle du JEFF-3.1.1 est de +90 pcm, tandis que pour le réseau MOX, il est de +170 pcm à cause de la sensibilité élevée de la diffusion thermique pour ce type de combustible. Dans la plage de température de 10 °C à 80 °C, l’erreur de calcul sur le RTC est de -0.27 ± 0.3 pcm/°C avec JEFF-3.1.1 et de +0.05 ± 0.3 pcm/°C avec le modèle CAB pour le réseau UOX. Pour la configuration MOX, il est de -0.98 ± 0.3 pcm/°C et -0.72 ± 0.3 pcm/°C obtenu respectivement avec la bibliothèque JEFF-3.1.1 et avec le modèle CAB. Les résultats montrent l’apport du modèle CAB dans le calcul de ce paramètre de sureté. / In the present report it was studied the neutron thermal scattering of light water for reactors application. The thermal scattering law model of hydrogen bounded to the water molecule of the JEFF-3.1.1 nuclear data library is based on experimental measures performed in the sixties. The scattering physics of this latter was compared with a model based on molecular dynamics calculations developed at the Atomic Center in Bariloche (Argentina), namely the CAB model. The impact of these models was evaluated as well on reactor calculations at cold conditions. The selected benchmark was the MISTRAL program (UOX and MOX configurations), carried out in the zero power reactor EOLE of CEA Cadarache (France). The contribution of the neutron thermal scattering of hydrogen in water was quantified in terms of the difference in the calculated reactivity and the calculation error on the isothermal reactivity temperature coefficient (RTC). For the UOX lattice, the calculated reactivity with the CAB model at 20 °C is +90 pcm larger than JEFF-3.1.1, while for the MOX lattice is +170 pcm because of the high sensitivity of thermal scattering to this type of fuels. In the temperature range from 10 °C to 80 °C, the calculation error on the RTC is -0.27 ± 0.3 pcm/°C and +0.05 ± 0.3 pcm/°C obtained with JEFF-3.1.1 and the CAB model respectively (UOX lattice). For the MOX lattice, is -0.98 ± 0.3 pcm/°C and -0.72 ± 0.3 pcm/°C obtained with the JEFF-3.1.1 library and with the CAB model respectively. The results illustrate the improvement of the CAB model in the calculation of this safety parameter.

Light water reactors (LWRs) are the world’s dominant nuclear reactor system. Uranium (U)-fuelled LWRs produce long-lived transuranic (TRU) isotopes. TRUs can be recycled in LWRs or fast reactors. The thermal neutron spectrum in LWRs is less suitable for burning TRUs as this causes a build-up of TRU isotopes with low fission probability. This increases the fissile feed requirements, which tends to result in a positive void coefficient (VC) and hence the reactor is unsafe to operate. Use of reduced-moderation LWRs can improve TRU transmutation performance, but the VC is still severely limiting for these designs. Reduced-moderation pressurized water reactors (RMPWRs) and boiling water reactors (RBWRs) are considered in this study. Using thorium (Th) instead of U as the fertile fuel component can greatly improve the VC. However, Th-based transmutation is a much less developed technology than U-based transmutation. In this thesis, the feasibility and fuel cycle performance of full TRU recycle in Th-fuelled RMPWRs and RBWRs are evaluated. Neutronic performance is greatly improved by spatial separation of TRU and 233-6U, primarily implemented here using heterogeneous RMPWR and RBWR assembly designs. In a RMPWR, the water to fuel ratio must be reduced to around 50% of the normal value to allow full actinide recycle. If implemented by retrofitting an existing PWR, steady-state thermal-hydraulic constraints can still be satisfied. However, in a large break loss-of-coolant accident, the emergency core cooling system may not be able to provide water to the core quickly enough to prevent fuel cladding failure. A discharge burn-up of ~40 GWd/t is possible in RMPWRs. Reactivity control is a challenge due to the reduced worth of neutron absorbers in the hard neutron spectrum, and their detrimental effect on the VC, especially when diluted, as for soluble boron. Control rods are instead used to control the core. It appears possible to achieve adequate power peaking, shutdown margin and rod-ejection accident response. In RBWRs, it appears neutronically feasible to achieve very high burn-ups (~120 GWd/t) but the maximum achievable incineration rate is less than in RMPWRs. The reprocessing and fuel fabrication requirements of RBWRs are less than RMPWRs but more than fast reactors. A two-stage TRU burning cycle, where the first stage is Th-Pu MOX in a conventional PWR feeding a second stage continuous burn in a RBWR, is technically reasonable. It is possible to limit the core area to that of an ABWR with acceptable thermal-hydraulic performance. In this case, it appears that RBWRs are of similar cost to inert matrix incineration in LWRs, and lower cost than RMPWRs and Th- and U-based fast reactor recycle schemes.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Kord Sterling Smith. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Donald Kent Parsons. / M.S.

Thesis (Nucl.E.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Includes bibliographical references. / by John Edward Rivera. / Nucl.E.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Bibliography: leaves 247-249. / by Wee Tee Loh. / Ph.D.

Dryout and Departure from Nucleate boiling (DNB) are utmost thermal-hydraulic concerns for the safety of LWRs. The behavior of two-phase flows at these conditions is still not fully understood. There is at least a need for a good local velocity and void fraction database at these conditions. This database can be exploited by CFD codes, thereby leading to understanding and predicting DNB and boiling crisis. Since these conditions occur in LWR at pressures greater than 70 bar and temperatures above 285 $^oC$, most instrumentations fail at these conditions. So there is a need for developing or optimizing new instruments for this specific objective. This study will look into the application of Hot Wire Anemometry (HWA) for this application. Previous experiments at near saturation conditions were studied, the hurdles of application of HWA in the HWAT loop at KTH were also investigated. Finally, the deposition of thin film on the HWA sensors for protection was studied. / Dryout och avvikelse från kärnkokning (DNB) är extrema termiska hydrauliska problem för säkerheten för LWR. Tvåfasflödets beteende under dessa förhållanden är fortfarande inte helt förstådd. Det finns ett behov av en god lokal hastighets- och tomrumsfraktionsdatabas under dessa förhållanden. Denna databas kan användas av CFD-koder, vilket leder till att förstå och förutsäga DNB och den kokande krisen. Eftersom dessa förhållanden förekommer i LWR vid tryck större än 70 bar och temperaturer över 285 oC, misslyckas de flesta instrument vid dessa förhållanden. Så det finns ett behov av att utveckla eller optimera nya instrument för detta specifika mål. Denna studie kommer att undersöka tillämpningen av Hot Wire Anemometry (HWA) för denna applikation. Tidigare experiment vid nästan mättnadsförhållanden dissekerades, hinder för tillämpningen av HWA i HWAT-slingan vid KTH undersöktes också. Slutligen undersöks avsättningen av tunn film på HWA-sensorerna för skydd.