The Role of Uncertainties in Reactor Safety Calculations: Lessons Learned from the OECD-NEA Uncertainty Analysis Methodology Benchmark Project

Abstract

Over the last 6 years the OECD-NEA has initiated a series of computational benchmarks in the fields of reactor physics and thermalhydraulics. Within this context McMaster university has been a contributor and applied several state of the art tools including TSUNAMI, DRAGON, ASSERT, STAR-CCM+, RELAP and TRACE. Considering the tremendous amount of international participation in these benchmarks, there were many lessons of both technical and non-technical that should be shared. This paper presents a summary of the benchmarks, the results and contributions from McMaster, and the authors opinion on the overall conclusions gained from these extensive benchmarks. The benchmarks discussed in this paper include the Uncertainty in Analysis and Modelling (UAM), the BWR fine mesh bundle test (BFBT), the PWR Subchannel Boiling Test (PSBT), the MATiS mixing experiment, and the IAEA Supercritical Water Heat Transfer Benchmarks.