Sviluppo di un codice di cinetica spaziale di nocciolo per sistemi LFR

The development of a new multi-physics simulation tool is presented for the quasi-3D analysis of a lead-cooled fast reactor core with the hexagonal fuel element configuration, as currently proposed within the framework of the European project LEADER. The tool implements coupled neutronic (NE) and thermal-hydraulic (TH) models. In the NE module a 2D + 1 D full-core multi-group diffusion solver has been developed, while in the TH module the 3D problem is split in 1 D (axial) problems along each hexagonal assembly thermally coupled to each other in the transverse directions. The two modules are coupled by exchanging the power distribution (from NE to TH) and the temperature map (from TH to NE). The code is benchmarked against pure TH and pure NE analytical solutions and the results of a coupled NE/TH simulation are also presented.