Reactor Kinetics

Prompt neutron lifetime, l, is the average time from a prompt neutron emission to either its absorption (fission or radiative capture) or its escape from the system. This parameter is defined in multiplying or also in non-multiplying systems. In both systems, the prompt neutron lifetimes depend strongly on:

• the material composition of the system
  • multiplying – non-multiplying system
  • the system with or without thermalization
  • isotopic composition of the system
• the geometric configuration of the system
  • homogeneous or heterogeneous system
  • the shape of the entire system
• size of the system

In an infinite reactor (without escape), prompt neutron lifetime is the sum of the slowing downtime and the diffusion time.

l=t_s + t_d

In an infinite thermal reactor t_s << t_d and therefore l ≈ t_d. The typical prompt neutron lifetime in thermal reactors is on the order of 10⁻⁴ seconds. Generally, the longer neutron lifetimes occur in systems where the neutrons must be thermalized to be absorbed.

Systems in which most of the neutrons are absorbed in higher energies and the neutron thermalization is suppressed (e.g., in fast reactors) have much shorter prompt neutron lifetimes. The typical prompt neutron lifetime in fast reactors is on the order of 10⁻⁷ seconds.

In multiplying systems, the absorption of a prompt fission neutron can initiate a fission reaction, l is equal to the average time between two generations of prompt neutrons (at k_eff=1). This time is known as the prompt neutron generation time.

Prompt Neutron Generation Time (or Mean Generation Time), Λ, is the average time from a prompt neutron emission to a capture that results only in fission. The prompt neutron generation time is designated as:

Λ = l/k_eff

The prompt generation time changes with the fuel burnup in power reactors, and LWRs increase with the fuel burnup. It is simple, and fresh uranium fuel contains much fissile material (in the case of uranium fuel, about 4% of ²³⁵U). This causes significant excess of reactivity, and this excess must be compensated via chemical shim (in case of PWRs) or burnable absorbers.

Due to these factors (high probability of absorption in fuel and high probability of absorption in moderator), the prompt neutron lives much shorter, and the prompt neutron lifetime is low. With fuel burnup, the amount of fissile material and the absorption in the moderator decreases, and therefore the prompt neutron can “live” much longer.

The prompt neutron lifetime belongs to key neutron-physical characteristics of reactor core. Its value depends especially on the type of the moderator and the energy of the neutrons causing fission. Its importance for nuclear reactor safety has been well known for a long time.

The longer prompt neutron lifetimes can substantially improve the kinetic response of the reactor (the longer prompt neutron lifetime gives simply a slower power increase). For example, under RIA conditions (Reactivity-Initiated Accidents), reactors should withstand a jump-like insertion of relatively large (~1 $ or even more) positive reactivity, and the PNL (prompt neutron lifetime) plays here the key role. Therefore the PNL should be verified in a reload safety evaluation process.

In some cases (especially in some fast reactors), reactor cores can be modified to increase the PNL and improve nuclear safety.

Reactor-kinetic calculations considering many initial conditions would be correct, but they would also be very complicated. Therefore G. R. Keepin and his co-workers suggested to group together the precursors based on their half-lives. Therefore delayed neutrons are traditionally represented by six delayed neutron groups, whose yields and decay constants (λ) are obtained from nonlinear least-squares fits experimental measurements. This model has the following disadvantages:

• All constants for each group of precursors are empirical fits to the data.

• They cannot be matched with decay constants of specific precursors.

• These constants are different for each fissionable nuclide.

• These constants also change with the neutron energy spectrum.

Although this six-group parameterization still satisfies the requirements of commercial organizations, higher accuracy of the delayed neutron yields and a better energy resolution in the delayed neutron spectra is desired.

It was recognized that the half-lives in the six-group structure do not accurately reproduce the asymptotic die-away time constants associated with the three longest-lived dominant precursors: ⁸⁷Br, ¹³⁷I, and ⁸⁸Br.

This model may be insufficient, especially in the case of epithermal reactors, because virtually all delayed neutron activity measurements have been performed for fast or thermal-neutron-induced fission. In the case of fast reactors, the nuclear fission of six fissionable isotopes of uranium and plutonium is important, and the accuracy and energy resolution may play an important role.

In nuclear reactors the gamma radiation plays a significant role also in reactor kinetics and in a subcriticality control. Especially in nuclear reactors with D₂O moderator (CANDU reactors) or Be reflectors (some experimental reactors). Neutrons can also be produced in (γ, n) reactions, and therefore they are usually referred to as photoneutrons.

Under certain conditions, a high-energy photon (gamma-ray) can eject a neutron from a nucleus. It occurs when its energy exceeds the binding energy of the neutron in the nucleus. Most nuclei have binding energies over 6 MeV, above the energy of most gamma rays from fission. On the other hand, few nuclei with sufficiently low binding energy are of practical interest. These are: ²D, ⁹Be, ⁶Li, ⁷Li, and ¹³C. As can be seen from the table, the lowest threshold have ⁹Be with 1.666 MeV and ²D with 2.226 MeV.

In the case of deuterium, neutrons can be produced by the interaction of gamma rays (with a minimum energy of 2.22 MeV) with deuterium:

Because gamma rays can be emitted by fission products with certain delays, and the process is very similar to that through which a “true” delayed neutron is emitted, photoneutrons are usually treated no differently than regularly delayed neutrons in the kinetic calculations. Photoneutron precursors can also be grouped by their decay constant, similarly to “real” precursors. The table below shows the relative importance of source neutrons in CANDU reactors by showing the makeup of the full power flux.

Although photoneutrons are important, especially in CANDU reactors, deuterium nuclei are always present (~0.0156%) in the light water of LWRs. Moreover, the capture of neutrons in the hydrogen nucleus of the water molecules in the moderator yields small amounts of D₂O, enhancing the heavy water concentration. Therefore, in LWRs kinetic calculations, photoneutrons from D₂O are treated as additional groups of delayed neutrons with characteristic decay constants λ_j and effective group fractions.

After a nuclear reactor has been operating at full power for some time, there will be a considerable build-up of gamma rays from the fission products. This high gamma flux from short-lived fission products will decrease rapidly after shutdown. The photoneutron source decreases with the decay of long-lived fission products that produce delayed high-energy gamma rays in the long term. The photoneutron source drops slowly, decreasing a little each day. The longest-lived fission product with gamma-ray energy above the threshold is ¹⁴⁰Ba with a half-life of 12.75 days.

The amount of fission products present in the fuel elements depends on how long the reactor has been operated before shutdown and at which power level has been operated before shutdown. Photoneutrons are usually a major source in a reactor and ensure sufficient neutron flux on source range detectors when the reactor is subcritical in long-term shutdown.

Compared with fission neutrons, which make a self-sustaining chain reaction possible, delayed neutrons make reactor control possible, and photoneutrons are important at low power operation.

See also: Delayed Neutron Fraction

See also: Effective Delayed Neutron Fraction – βeff

The delayed neutron fraction, β, is the fraction of delayed neutrons in the core at creation at high energies. But in the case of thermal reactors, the fission can be initiated mainly by a thermal neutron. Thermal neutrons are of practical interest in the study of thermal reactor behavior. The effective delayed neutron fraction usually referred to as β_eff, is the same fraction at thermal energies.

The effective delayed neutron fraction reflects the ability of the reactor to thermalize and utilize each neutron produced. The β is not the same as the β_eff due to the fact delayed neutrons do not have the same properties as prompt neutrons released directly from fission. In general, delayed neutrons have lower energies than prompt neutrons. Prompt neutrons have initial energy between 1 MeV and 10 MeV, with an average energy of 2 MeV. Delayed neutrons have initial energy between 0.3 and 0.9 MeV with an average energy of 0.4 MeV.

Therefore, a delayed neutron traverses a smaller energy range in thermal reactors to become thermal. It is also less likely to be lost by leakage or parasitic absorption than the 2 MeV prompt neutron. On the other hand, delayed neutrons are also less likely to cause fast fission because their average energy is less than the minimum required for fast fission to occur.

These two effects (lower fast fission factor and higher fast non-leakage probability for delayed neutrons) tend to counteract each other and form a term called the importance factor (I). The importance factor relates the average delayed neutron fraction to the effective delayed neutron fraction. As a result, the effective delayed neutron fraction is the product of the average delayed neutron fraction and the importance factor.

β_eff = β . I

The delayed and prompt neutrons have a difference in their effectiveness in producing a subsequent fission event. Since the energy distribution of the delayed neutrons also differs from group to group, the different groups of delayed neutrons will also have different effectiveness. Moreover, a nuclear reactor contains a mixture of fissionable isotopes. Therefore, the importance factor is insufficient in some cases, and an importance function must be defined.

For example:

In a small thermal reactor with highly enriched fuel, the increase in fast non-leakage probability will dominate the decrease in the fast fission factor, and the importance factor will be greater than one.

In a large thermal reactor with low enriched fuel, the decrease in the fast fission factor will dominate the increase in the fast non-leakage probability, and the importance factor will be less than one (about 0.97 for a commercial PWR).

In large fast reactors, the decrease in the fast fission factor will also dominate the increase in the fast non-leakage probability, and the β_eff is less than β by about 10%.

Mean Generation Time with Delayed Neutrons, l_d, is the weighted average of the prompt generation times and a delayed neutron generation time. The delayed neutron generation time, τ, is the weighted average of mean precursor lifetimes of the six groups (or more groups) of delayed neutron precursors.

It must be noted the true lifetime of delayed neutrons (the slowing downtime and the diffusion time) is very short compared with the mean lifetime of their precursors (t_s + t_d << τ_i). Therefore τ_i is also equal to the mean lifetime of a neutron from the ith group, that is, τ_i = l_i, and the equation for mean generation time with delayed neutrons is the following:

l_d = (1 – β).l_p + ∑l_i . β_i => l_d = (1 – β).l_p + ∑τ_i . β_i

where

• (1 – β) is the fraction of all neutrons emitted as prompt neutrons
• l_p is the prompt neutron lifetime
• τ_i is the mean precursor lifetime, the inverse value of the decay constant τ_i = 1/λ_i
• The weighted delayed generation time is given by τ = ∑τ_i . β_i / β = 13.05 s
• Therefore the weighted decay constant λ = 1 / τ ≈ 0.08 s^-1

The number, 0.08 s^-1, is relatively high and has a dominating effect on reactor time response, although delayed neutrons are a small fraction of all neutrons in the core. This is best illustrated by calculating a weighted mean generation time with delayed neutrons:

l_d = (1 – β).l_p + ∑τ_i . β_i = (1 – 0.0065). 2 x 10^-5 + 0.085 = 0.00001987 + 0.085 ≈ 0.085

In short, the mean generation time with delayed neutrons is about ~0.1 s, rather than ~10-5 as in section Prompt Neutron Lifetime, where the delayed neutrons were omitted.

Despite the fact the number of delayed neutrons per fission neutron is quite small (typically below 1%) and thus does not contribute significantly to the power generation, they play a crucial role in the reactor control and are essential from the point of view of reactor kinetics and reactor safety. Their presence completely changes the dynamic time response of a reactor to some reactivity change, making it controllable by control systems such as the control rods.

Delayed neutrons allow to operate a reactor in a prompt subcritical, delayed critical condition. All power reactors are designed to operate in delayed critical conditions and are provided with safety systems to prevent them from ever achieving prompt criticality.

For typical PWRs, the prompt criticality occurs after positive reactivity insertion of β_eff(i.e., k_eff ≈ 1.006 or ρ = +600 pcm). In power reactors, such a reactivity insertion is practically impossible to insert (in case of normal and abnormal operation), especially when a reactor is in power operation mode and a reactivity insertion causes heating of a reactor core. Due to the presence of reactivity feedbacks, the positive reactivity insertion is counterbalanced by the negative reactivity from moderator and fuel temperature coefficients. The presence of delayed neutrons is of importance also from this point of view because they provide time also to reactivity feedbacks to react on undesirable reactivity insertion.

Press the “clear and run” button and try to increase the power of the reactor.

Compare the response of the reactor with the case of Infinite Multiplying System Without Source and without Delayed Neutrons (or set the β = 0).

The prompt critical state is defined as:

k_eff > 1; ρ ≥ β_eff, where the reactivity of a reactor is higher than the effective delayed neutron fraction. In this case, the production of prompt neutrons alone is enough to balance neutron losses and increase the neutron population. The number of neutrons is exponentially increasing in time (as rapidly as the prompt neutron generation lifetime ~10^-5s).

The prompt subcritical and delayed supercritical state is defined as:

k_eff > 1; 0 < ρ < β_eff, where the reactivity of a reactor is higher than zero and lower than the effective delayed neutron fraction. In this case, the production of prompt neutrons alone is insufficient to balance neutron losses, and the delayed neutrons are needed to sustain the chain reaction. The neutron population increases, but much more slowly (as the mean generation lifetime with delayed neutrons ~0.1 s).

The prompt subcritical and delayed critical state is defined as:

k_eff = 1; ρ = 0, where the reactivity of a reactor is equal to zero. In this case, the production of prompt neutrons alone is insufficient to balance neutron losses, and the delayed neutrons are needed to sustain the chain reaction. There is no change in neutron population in time, and the chain reaction will be self-sustaining. This state is the same as the critical state from basic classification.

The prompt subcritical and delayed subcritical state is defined as:

k_eff < 1; ρ < 0, where the reactivity of a reactor is lower than zero. In this case, the production of all neutrons is insufficient to balance neutron losses, and the chain reaction is not self-sustaining. If the reactor core contains external or internal neutron sources, the reactor is in the state that is usually referred to as the subcritical multiplication.

where:

l = prompt neutron lifetime

β_eff = effective delayed neutron fraction

λ_eff = effective delayed neutron precursor decay constant

τ_e = reactor period

ρ = reactivity

The first term in this formula is the prompt term, and it causes the positive reactivity insertion to be followed immediately by an immediate power increase called the prompt jump. This power increase occurs because the production rate of prompt neutrons changes immediately as the reactivity is inserted. After the prompt jump, the rate of change of power cannot increase any more rapidly than the built-in time delay the precursor half-lives allow. Therefore the second term in this formula is called the delayed term. The presence of delayed neutrons causes the power rise to be controllable, and the reactor can be controlled by control rods or another reactivity control mechanism.

Reactivity is not directly measurable, and therefore most power reactors procedures do not refer to it, and most technical specifications do not limit it. Instead, they specify a limiting rate of neutron power rise (measured by excore detectors), commonly called a startup rate (especially in the case of PWRs).

The reactor startup rate is defined as the number of factors often that power changes in one minute. Therefore the units of SUR are powers of ten per minute or decades per minute (dpm). The relationship between reactor power and startup rate is given by the following equation:

n(t) = n(0).10^SUR.t

where:
SUR = reactor startup rate [dpm – decades per minute]
t = time during reactor transient [minute]

The higher the value of SUR, the more rapid the change in reactor power. The startup rate may be positive or negative. If SUR is positive, reactor power increases, and if SUR is negative, reactor power decreases. The relationship between reactor period and startup rate is given by the following equations:

Example:

Suppose k_eff = 1.0005 in a reactor with a generation time l_d = 0.01s. For this state calculate the reactor period – τ_e, doubling time – DT and the startup rate (SUR).
ρ = 1.0005 – 1 / 1.0005 = 50 pcm

τ_e = l_d / k-1 = 0.1 / 0.0005 = 200 s

DT = τ_e . ln2 = 139 s

SUR = 26.06 / 200 = 0.13 dpm

Assume that ρ is very small. This causes the first root, s₀, of the reactivity to be also very small. In this case, s_0” λ_i and therefore, we can ignore the term s₀ in the denominator of the inhour equation. The inhour equation then takes the form:

As can be seen, this special case results in the same period as in the case of the simple point kinetics equation, which also uses the mean generation time with delayed neutrons (l_d):

Thus for small reactivities—positive or negative—, the reactor period is governed almost completely by the delayed neutron properties. Although the amount of delayed neutrons is only on the order of tenths of a percent of the total amount, the timescale in seconds (τ_i) plays an extremely important role.

The assumption is s₀ “λ_i. The largest value of τ_i = 1/λ_i = 80s, this formula is valid for periods, τ_e, higher than 80s. On the other hand, this formula is useful and accurate enough for most purposes for reactivities up to about ρ = 0.0005 = 50pcm.

Note that:

Mean generation time with delayed neutrons (l_d):

l_d = (1 – β).l_p + ∑l_i . β_i => l_d = (1 – β).l_p + ∑τ_i . β_i

where

• (1 – β) is the fraction of all neutrons emitted as prompt neutrons
• l_p is the prompt neutron lifetime
• τ_i is the mean precursor lifetime, the inverse value of the decay constant τ_i = 1/λ_i
• The weighted delayed generation time is given by τ = ∑τ_i . β_i / β = 13.05 s
• Therefore the weighted decay constant λ = 1 / τ ≈ 0.08 s^-1

The number, 0.08 s^-1, is relatively high and has a dominating effect on reactor time response, although delayed neutrons are a small fraction of all neutrons in the core. This is best illustrated by calculating a weighted mean generation time with delayed neutrons:

l_d = (1 – β).l_p + ∑τ_i . β_i = (1 – 0.0065). 2 x 10^-5 + 0.085 = 0.00001987 + 0.085 ≈ 0.085

In short, the mean generation time with delayed neutrons is about ~0.1 s, rather than ~10^-5 as in section Prompt Neutron Lifetime, where the delayed neutrons were omitted.

Example:

Let us consider that the mean generation time with delayed neutrons is ~0.085, and k (k_∞ – neutron multiplication factor) will be step increased by only 0.01% (i.e., 10pcm or ~1.5 cents). That is, k_∞=1.0000 will increase to k_∞=1.0001.

It must be noted such reactivity insertion (10pcm) is very small in the case of LWRs (e.g., one step by control rods). The reactivity insertions of the order of one pcm are for LWRs practically unrealizable. In this case, the reactor period will be:

T = l_d / (k_∞-1) = 0.085 / (1.0001-1) = 850s

This is a very long period. In ~14 minutes, the neutron flux (and power) in the reactor would increase by a factor of e = 2.718. This is a completely different dimension of the response on reactivity insertion in comparison with the case without the presence of delayed neutrons, where the reactor period was 1 second.

Assume that ρ is higher than β.  In this case, the production of prompt neutrons alone is enough to balance neutron losses and increase the neutron population. The number of neutrons is exponentially increasing in time (as rapidly as the prompt neutron generation lifetime ~10^-5s).

This causes the first root, s₀, of the reactivity, to become larger than each λ_i. In this case, λ_i “s₀ and therefore, we can ignore the term λ_i in the denominator of the inhour equation. The inhour equation then takes the form:

As can be seen, this special case results in the same period as in the case of simple point kinetics equation without delayed neutrons.

Reaching the reactivity of β (e.g., 650pcm) completely changes the response of a reactor; therefore, this situation can only be accidental. As prompt criticality is reached, the distinction between the prompt jump and the reactor period vanishes. The prompt neutron lifetime rather than the delayed neutron half-lives largely determine the rate of exponential increase. Reactors with such kinetics would be very difficult to control by mechanical means such as the movement of control rods. In normal operation, the reactivity of a reactor must remain far below the prompt criticality threshold with sufficient margin.

In design basis accidents (DBA), such kinetics can occur. For example, under RIA conditions (Reactivity-Initiated Accidents), reactors should withstand a jump-like insertion of relatively large (~1 $ or even more) positive reactivity (e.g., in case of control rod ejection), and the PNL (prompt neutron lifetime) plays here the key role. The longer prompt neutron lifetimes can substantially improve the kinetic response of the reactor (the longer prompt neutron lifetime gives simply a slower power increase). Therefore the PNL should be verified in a reload safety evaluation (RSE) process. Management of this accident is based on reactivity feedback, especially on the doppler temperature coefficient (DTC). This coefficient is of the highest importance in reactor stability. The doppler temperature coefficient is generally considered even more important than the moderator temperature coefficient (MTC). Especially in the case of a control rod ejection, the doppler temperature coefficient will be the first and the most important feedback that will compensate for the inserted positive reactivity. The time for heat to be transferred to the moderator is usually measured in seconds, while the fuel temperature coefficient is effective almost instantaneously. Therefore this coefficient is also called the prompt temperature coefficient because it causes an immediate response to changes in fuel temperature.

Assume that ρ is negative and ρ ≪ β. This case is typical for the emergency shutdown of a reactor. This event is also called a reactor trip or SCRAM. A reactor “SCRAM” (or “trip”) is the rapid insertion or fall of the control rods into the core to stop the fission chain reaction. In PWRs, all control rods are usually inserted within two to four seconds. In this case, the reactivity of the multiplying system becomes quickly negative and higher than β (in absolute values).

But even if it were possible to insert an infinite negative reactivity, the neutron flux would not immediately fall to zero. Prompt neutrons will be absorbed almost immediately. It is consistent with the prompt drop formula. Therefore the resulting neutron flux will be:

Obviously, the neutron flux cannot drop below the value βn₁. The real values are much higher. The integral worth of all control and emergency rods (PWRs) is, for example -9000pcm. It is equal to ρ = -9000/600 = -15β = -0.09 (β= 600pcm = 0.006)

For this negative reactivity, the prompt drop is equal to:

n₂/n₁ = 0.006/(0.006+0.09)=0.063

which is about ten times higher than in the case of an infinite negative reactivity insertion.

The neutron flux then continues to fall according to the stable period. The first root of the reactivity equation occurs at s₀ = – λ₁. The decay is constant of the long-lived precursor’s group. The shortest negative stable period is then τ_e = – 1/λ₁ = -80s. The neutron flux cannot be reduced more rapidly than this period. On the other hand, the prompt drop causes an immediate drop to about 6% of rated power. Within a few tens of seconds, the thermal power that originates from nuclear fission is below the thermal power that originates from decay heat.

As can be seen from the solution of exact point kinetics equation, any reactivity insertion (ρ < β) causes at first a sharp change in prompt neutrons population, and then the neutron response is slowed as a result of the more slowly changing number of delayed neutrons. The rapid response is a result of the small value of prompt neutron generation time in the denominator of the point kinetics equation.

Suppose we are interested in long-term behavior (asymptotic period) and not interested in the details of the prompt jump. In that case, we can simplify the point kinetics equations by assuming that the prompt jump takes place instantaneously in response to any reactivity change. This approximation is known as the Prompt Jump Approximation (PJA). Due to prompt neutrons, the rapid power change is neglected, corresponding to taking dn/dt |₀ = 0 in the point kinetics equations. That means the point kinetics equations are as follows:

From the equation for neutron flux and the assumption that the delayed neutron precursor population does not respond instantaneously to a change in reactivity (i.e., C_i,1 = C_i,2), it can be derived that the ratio of the neutron population just after and before the reactivity change is equal to:

The prompt-jump approximation is usually valid for smaller reactivity insertion, for example, for ρ < 0.5β. It is usually used with another simplification and the one delayed precursor group approximation.

In the previous section, we have simplified the point kinetics equation using prompt jump approximation (PJA). This eliminated the fast time scale due to prompt neutrons. This section considers that delayed neutrons are produced only by one group of precursors with the same decay constant (averaged) and delayed neutron fraction. Point kinetics equation using PJA and one group of delayed neutrons becomes:

This simplification then leads to:

Assuming that the reactivity is constant and n₁/n₀ can be determined from the prompt jump formula, this equation leads to a very simple formula:

As can be seen from the solution of exact point kinetics equation, any reactivity insertion (ρ < β) causes at first a sharp change in prompt neutrons population, and then the neutron response is slowed as a result of the more slowly changing number of delayed neutrons. The rapid response is a result of the small value of prompt neutron generation time in the denominator of the point kinetics equation.

Suppose we are interested in short-term behavior and not in the details of the asymptotic behavior. In that case, we can simplify the point kinetics equations by assuming that the production of the delayed neutrons is constant and equal to the production at the beginning of the transient. This approximation is known as the Constant Delayed Neutron Source Approximation (CDS), in which changes in the number of delayed neutrons are neglected, corresponding to taking dC_i(t)/dt = 0 and C_i(t) = C_i,0 in the point kinetics equations. That means the point kinetics equations are as follows:

The above equation can be solved analytically, and assuming that the reactivity is constant, the solution is given as:

The asymptotic period measurement is based on measurement of the exponential rise of neutron flux level during step increase in reactivity. In general, the stable reactor period (or asymptotic period), τ_e, is defined as the time required for the neutron density to change by a factor e = 2.718.

As was written in previous chapters, we can expect that the solution of point kinetics equation can be n(t) = A.exp(s.t) and C_i(t) = C_i,0.exp(s.t). In the asymptotic term (i.e., after the transition phenomena have died out), the asymptotic solution is in the form:

where s₀ = 1/_e is the stable reactor period or asymptotic period of the reactor. This root, s₀, is positive for ρ > 0 and negative for ρ < 0. Therefore this root describes the reactor response, lasting after the transition phenomena have died out. The measurement of the asymptotic period can be used to determine (directly from inhour equation) the reactivity inserted into the system.

The rod drop method belongs to a group of reactivity perturbation methods. This method is based on the study of the transient response of the reactor to a rapid insertion of high negative reactivity. This rapid reactivity insertion is usually performed by dropping the reactor control rods when the reactor is in a critical state. In this case, the reactivity inserted can be determined from the measurement of the prompt drop.

As was described in the Prompt Jump Approximation, the response of a neutron detector (n₁ ➝ n₂) immediately after a control rod is dropped into a critical reactor (ρ₁ = 0) is related by:

which allows the determination of the reactivity worth of the rod. The rod drop method is advantageous because it is very quick to perform and requires no extra equipment. Moreover, it can easily and safely measure large amounts of reactivity. On the other hand, the rod drop method is usually associated with reactor shutdown and subsequent reactor startup. Also, the rod drop time is not instantaneous as is theoretically assumed, therefore limiting the method’s accuracy. In PWRs, the drop time of all control rods is usually about 2 – 4 seconds.

This method is widely used to determine the worth of all control rods (i.e., of an emergency shutdown system). This method can also be used to determine the parameters of delayed neutrons, and these data can be obtained by decomposition of neutron flux coast-down.

A more accurate method is, for example, in:

Moore, K. V. Shutdown Reactivity by the Modified Rod Drop Method, USAEC Report ID0-16948, 1964.

The source jerk method belongs to a group of source perturbation methods. But in principle, the source jerk method is essentially the same as the rod drop method, except that it is a subcritical measurement, and the neutron source is removed instead of inserting a control rod. This method is based on the study of the transient response of the reactor to a rapid neutron source removal from a reactor.

In this case, the subcriticality of the reactor (subcritical multiplication) can be determined from the measurement of the prompt drop. Also, here the prompt drop can be measured because the delayed neutron precursor population will not change immediately. Following sudden source removal, the neutron population undergoes a sharp negative jump.

As was described in the Prompt Jump Approximation, the response of a neutron detector (n₁ ➝ n₂) immediately after a source removal from a subcritical reactor (ρ₁ < 0) is related by:

where n₀ is the neutron level with the source in place and n₁ is the neutron level immediately after the source jerk. Since a source is much smaller and lighter than a control rod, it is easier to remove it from the core quickly. On the other hand, in commercial reactors, this method cannot be used because, in commercial reactors, neutron sources (when used) cannot be removed from the core. Moreover, commercial reactors contain high burnup fuel, which is an important source of neutrons.

See also: Source Neutrons

Mathematically, reactivity is a dimensionless number, but it can be expressed by various units. The most common units for research reactors are units normalized to the delayed neutron fraction (e.g., cents and dollars) because they exactly express a departure from prompt criticality conditions.

The most common units for power reactors are units of pcm or %ΔK/K. The reason is simple. Units of dollars are difficult to use because the normalization factor, the effective delayed neutron fraction, significantly changes with the fuel burnup. In LWRs, the delayed neutron fraction decreases with fuel burnup (e.g., from β_eff = 0.007 at the beginning of the cycle up to β_eff = 0.005 at the end of the cycle). This is due to isotopic changes in the fuel. It is simple, and fresh uranium fuel contains only ²³⁵U as the fissile material, meanwhile during fuel burnup, the importance of fission of ²³⁹Pu increases (in some cases up to 50%). Since ²³⁹Pu produces significantly less delayed neutrons (0.0021 for thermal fission), the resultant core delayed neutron fraction of a multiplying system decreases (the weighted average of the constituent delayed neutron fractions).

β_core= ∑ P_i.β_i

The exact point kinetics equations that can be derived from the general neutron balance equations without making any approximations are:

where:

• n(t) is the neutron density in the core (which is proportional to the detector count rate)
• C_i(t) is the precursor’s density of delayed neutrons of group i
• Λ is the prompt generation time
• ρ is the reactivity
• the constants β_i and λ_i are the fraction and decay constant of delayed neutron precursor of group i
• S(t) is the source term, which characterizes the number of neutrons (source neutrons) added to the system from an external source. As can be seen, the source term does not influence the system’s dynamics since it does not influence the reactivity of the system.

According to Seiji TAMURA, the Inverse Kinetics equations (flux ⟶ reactivity) for discrete-time series data can be derived from the ordinary point kinetics equations (reactivity ⟶ flux), assuming that the reactor power change for the interval of Δt is as n(t)=n_j-1exp(μ_jt), where μ_j = log(n_j/n_j-1)/Δt:

When the reactor power is at a steady-state n_o, there are seven initial conditions that can be obtained as:

The equation for ρ_j provides a real-time reactivity calculation for successive reactor power data. When the reactor is operating at a sufficiently high power level, the last term of the right side, the source term, may be neglected because it becomes negligible.

For operation at low power levels or in the sub-critical domain (e.g., during criticality approach), the contribution of the neutron source must be taken into account, and this implies the knowledge of a quantity proportional to the source strength and then it should be determined. Otherwise, zero reactivity will be obtained for any subcritical reactor condition (after the transition phenomena have died out). The source term can be determined using data from a transient state after introducing a given reactivity. The source term can be determined from the rod drop experiment data using the Least Squares Inverse Kinetics Method (LSIKM).

Special reference: M. Itagaki, A. Kitano, “Revised source strength estimation for inverse neutron kinetics,” Preprints 1999 Fall Mtg., At. Energy Soc. Jpn., Hiroshima, Japan, G20, (1999)

Special reference: Renato Yoichi Ribeiro Kuramoto, Anselmo Ferreira Miranda. SUBCRITICAL REACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS AT ANGRA 1 NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. 2011 International Nuclear Atlantic Conference – INAC 2011. ISBN: 978-85-99141-04-5.