Reactor Physics

P. F. Zweifel
Unlveralty Profeuor
VirIlnia Po1ytechnlc: lDIUtuto
and State Unlvenlty

McQ,.w-HIH Book Company

New York St. Louis San Franasco DQsseJdorf Johannabul'l

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Reactor Physics
Copyript . C 1973 by McGraw-Hill, Inc.

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This book was let in T1mcI New Roman, and printed

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To Kathy

Contents

Prcfac:e xl
1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 1

Basic COncepts of Reactor Physics 1

Physical Description of the Chain

1.1
1.2

Reaction

THE NEUTRON DIFFUSION EQUATION 13

2.1
2.2
2..3
2.4
2.6

2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2,11

10

IntrodllCtion and Definitions 13

The Neutron Transport Equation 21
The O_peed Transport Equation 23
Anothcc Ponn of the Balance Relation 24
Pick', Rule 25
Boundary Conditions 28
Validity of Diffusion Theory 32
The Diffusion Equation in Plane Geometry 33
The Diffusion Equation in SphericalGeometry 39
The Dift'usion Equation in CylindricalGcomctry 43
Measurement of Diffusion Paramctel'l 48

ONESPEED REACTOR 61

3.1 IntrodllCtion: Basic Equation 51

3.2 Bare Slab Reactor :53
3.3 General Remarks on Practical Calculations S6
3.4 Critical Mall and Critical Size 58
3.5 Criticality CaJculatiollS in Other GeomctricI 62
3.6 Physical Mcanina of the Criticality Condition 67
3.7 Power Diltribution 69

vU

vln

. CONTENTS

3.8 Intepal Equation Approach 70

. 3.8 Noahomopoooua Rcactora-Reftccton 73

4 nMEDEPENDENT PROBLEMS 78
4.1 IntroduetioD 78
4.2 Asymptotic Reactor KiDetics 79
4.3 Kinetics Equations with Delayed Neutrons 82
4.4 Multistqe Processes Produc:in& Delayed Neutrons 86
4.6 Specific R.csuIlI for One Delayed-Neutron Group 88
4.6 Measurement of Reactivity: Stable Period 90

4.7 Rod-drop Experiments 91

4.8 Pubccl-ncutroo Expcrimcnta 93
4.9 Invcne Multiplication 96

4.10 The Reactor Transfer Function 98

4.11 Neutroo Wave ExJ)Criiocnts 100

CALCULATION OF REACTIVITY 104

6.1

6.2
6.3
6.4
&.6

IntroduetioD 104
Linear pPcraton 105
Variational PriDciple 113
Perturbation Theory 119

Iterated Fission Probabi1ity 123

6.8 Supemuiational PriDciple 126

6.7 Variational Principles for InbomoIeneous Equations 129

8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.6

NUMERICAL METHODS 131

Introduction 135
Outer Iterations 136
Flux Calculation: One-dimensional Case 139

Two- and 'fbreo.dimenIio Problems: Inner

Proof of Converpnc:e 149

8.8 Extrapolation Methods 151

8.7

BuddiDa Iteration, Flux Synthesis

152

REACTOR CONTROL 1&&

7.1 Introduction 155

7.2 Direct Calculation of Rod Worth 156

7.3 The SeIf-shieIdiDI Factor 157
7.4 Fint-ftiaht Elc:ape Probability t 64

It~ions

144

CONTENTS

7'9
7:f'
7.7
7.8

A Black Rod In Diffusion Theory: Absorption Area

Fuel Depletion Ell'ech 173
Fission Product Poisonin; 177
Xenon Poisoning 179
7.9 0Ulcr Saturating Fission Produets 186

Ix

168

ENERGY-DEPENDENT PROBLEMS: THE MULT'GROUP METHOD

8.1
8.2
8.3
8 .4
8.5
8.6
8.7

188

Introduction 188
The Multigroup Methods 189
Derivation of the Multiaroup Equations 191
Analytical Solutions of the Multigroup Equations 197
Numerical Solution of the Multigroup Equations 203
Inwaral Equation Formulation 203
Measurement of k", 20'

a The French Intermediate Experimenl 205

b Fermi" ExponentialExperiment 209
8.8

9
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.6
9.8
9.7
9.8
9.9

10

Effective Delayed-Neutron Fraction 213

SLOWING-DOWN CALCULATIONS 218

Introduction 218
The Collision Kernel: Elastk: Scauerina 220
The Collision Kernel: Inelastic Scatterina 226
Fermi Age Theory 230
Infinite-medium Resonance Absorption 237
Resonance Absorption In Lumped Absorbers 242
Temperature Effceh 247
Thermal Group Constants 252
Variational Principles and Perturbation Theory in the Multigroup Fo~lism 254

SELECTED SPECIAL TOPICS 268

10.1 Introduction 258

10.2 Some Problems Encountered in the Design of Light-water Reactors 2'8

10.3
10.4
10.6
10.6
10.7

a GeneralRemorkl 258
b Fast Spectrum 259
c Resonance Caplure 261
d ThermalSpeclrum 264
e Fuel Managemenl 26'
Fast Reactors 266
The Thorium Converter 269
Heavy-water R,plctors 270
Graphite Pilca 272
Temperature Cocfficicnh 273

x
APPENDIX
APPENDIX
APPENDIX
APPENDIX

CONTENTS
A

MatrbI 271

The Delta Diltribution 281

Fourier aDd Laplace TraDsforma 284
Spacial Func:tioaa or Rcac:w PhYli.ca 290
D.I SpbericaJ Coordinatel 290
D.1 CyUndricaI CoordiDatei 293
Dynamia or Elastic CclIisioaI 295
The Telepapher'. Equation 300

C
D

APPENDIX E
APPENDIX F
IIIUOGftAPHY

J02

NAME INDEX aot

SUBJECT INDEX

311