HPLWR Equilibrium Core Design With the Karate Code System

Abstract

The High Performance Light Water Reactor (HPLWR) is the European version of the various supercritical water cooled reactor proposals. The paper presents the activity of KFKI-AEKI in the field of neutronic core design within the framework of the "HPLWR Phase 2" FP-6 and the Hungarian “NUKENERG” projects. As the coolant density along the axial direction shows remarkable change, coupled neutronic- thermohydraulic calculations are essential which take into account the heating of moderator in the special water rods of the assemblies. A parametrized diffusion cross section library was prepared for the HPLWR assembly with the MULTICELL neutronic transport code. The parametrized cross sections are used by the KARATE program system, which was verified for supercritical conditions by comparative Monte Carlo calculations. To design the HPLWR equilibrium core preliminary loadings were assessed, which contain insulated assemblies with Gd burnable absorbers. The fuel assemblies have radial and axial enrichment zoning to reduce hot spots.