The TRADE experiment is conceived to demonstrate the feasibility of the ADS concept at a power representative size. It is based on coupling of TRIGA reactor (ENEA-Casaccia) in subcritical core configuration with a proton accelerator (cyclotron) by means of a neutron spallation target interface and it is aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of the ADS concept at a power representative size. The RELAP5/PARCS code is considered a suitable tool for studying the coupled neutronics/thermal¨hydraulics problem due to the capability of RELAP5 to treat light water reactors and of PARCS version modified by ENEA to simulate the three-dimensional neutronics of subcritical systems. Starting from a satisfactory assessment of the PARCS modifications against a simple analytical solution of subcritical neutronics of TRADE (kinetics pseudo-potentials method), this paper presents the development of a quite detailed model for the coupled code able to evaluate the thermal feedback effects and to simulate the control rod action. The calculated transients represent a wide range ofhoth operational and incidental scenarios in order lo obtain a first system response to a number of reactor elementary events at different subcritical levels. The results of the analysis show that the model could be a useful tool for the definition of the operational procedures and incidental analysis, highlighting inherent safety behaviour of the TRIGA reactor.
A Neutronics-Thermalhydraulics Model for Preliminary Studies on Trade Dynamics
Polidori, M.;Meloni, P.
2005-10-02
Abstract
The TRADE experiment is conceived to demonstrate the feasibility of the ADS concept at a power representative size. It is based on coupling of TRIGA reactor (ENEA-Casaccia) in subcritical core configuration with a proton accelerator (cyclotron) by means of a neutron spallation target interface and it is aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of the ADS concept at a power representative size. The RELAP5/PARCS code is considered a suitable tool for studying the coupled neutronics/thermal¨hydraulics problem due to the capability of RELAP5 to treat light water reactors and of PARCS version modified by ENEA to simulate the three-dimensional neutronics of subcritical systems. Starting from a satisfactory assessment of the PARCS modifications against a simple analytical solution of subcritical neutronics of TRADE (kinetics pseudo-potentials method), this paper presents the development of a quite detailed model for the coupled code able to evaluate the thermal feedback effects and to simulate the control rod action. The calculated transients represent a wide range ofhoth operational and incidental scenarios in order lo obtain a first system response to a number of reactor elementary events at different subcritical levels. The results of the analysis show that the model could be a useful tool for the definition of the operational procedures and incidental analysis, highlighting inherent safety behaviour of the TRIGA reactor.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.