Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

MCNP; Reactor Physics; Small Modular Reactor

Abstract

"One of the most promising new reactor designs is the Small Modular Reactor (SMR). These reactors, which operate under 300 MWe, will help bring cheap and safe nuclear energy to remote and centralized locations alike. Their ease of construction, advanced passive safety features, and cost effectiveness make these reactors an intriguing option for the near future.

In the work presented here, a neutronics analysis of the Westinghouse SMR was performed. Westinghouse's SMR design is a scaled down version of their AP1000 plant and will produce about 225 MWe of power. Though the parameters of the reactor core will be modeled after the AP1000, the exact layout of the core has not been released. For this research project, six initial core configurations have been proposed. The Monte Carlo method was used to calculate several reactor parameters by means of the MCNP6 code. Beginning of life calculations such as effective multiplication factor, delayed neutron fraction, temperature coefficients of reactivity, and neutron flux profile have been performed. Three refueling cycles have then been completed to observe how the six cores perform within the cycle up to the point when an equilibrium fuel cycle has been reached, while extracting data pertaining to multiplication factor, burnup, composition of spent fuel, and flux profile. These calculations will help to determine the feasibility and the effectiveness of the six potential core configurations."--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Alajo, Ayodeji Babatunde

Committee Member(s)

Castano Giraldo, Carlos Henry
Usman, Shoaib

Department(s)

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Degree Name

M.S. in Nuclear Engineering

Sponsor(s)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2015

Pagination

xi, 91 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 89-90).

Rights

© 2015 William Kirby Compton, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Nuclear reactors -- Cores -- Analysis
Light water reactors
Nuclear fuels

Thesis Number

T 10668

Electronic OCLC #

913484607

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