Effects of geometry homogenization on the HTR-10 criticality calculations.

Abstract: This study performs an investigation of geometry homogenization simulation using MCNP5 v1.51 and SCALE6 on the HTR-10 criticality calculations and focusing on the impact of geometry homogenization on k eff and neutron spectrum. The data libraries employed in this work are both continuous ENDF/B-VI respectively in MCNP5 and SCALE6. Six models, which are Model 1 – heterogeneous model, Model 2 – TRISO coating and graphite matrix homogenized model, Model 3 – TRISO homogenized model, Model 4 – fuel zone of fuel ball homogenized model, Model 5 – fuel ball homogenized model, and Model 6 – core homogenized model, are performed correspondingly by using MCNP5 and SCALE6 on the homogeneous effect analysis in HTR-10. The results revealed that the differences of k eff between MCNP5 and SCALE6 are all less than 300pcm. The small differences of k eff, neutron spectra, and also the consistent discrepancies of neutron spectra between each homogenized model (Model 2–6) and Model 1 show the good agreement of MCNP5 with SCALE6 in the geometry homogenization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]