2008 September 1

Neutron Balance
B. Rouben
McMaster University
EP 4D03/6D03
Nuclear Reactor Analysis
2008 Sept-Dec
2008 September 2
Contents
The Neutron-Transport Equation
The Neutron-Diffusion Equation
Stages of practical neutronics calculations:
lattice calculations
full-core calculations

2008 September 3
Reactor Statics: Neutron Balance
In reactor statics we study time-independent phenomena
Independence of time means that there is (or is assumed to
be) neutron balance everywhere.
Therefore, all phenomena which involve neutrons must
result altogether in equality between neutron production
and neutron loss (i.e., between neutron sources and sinks)
at every position r in the reactor and for every neutron
energy E.
These phenomena are:
Production of neutrons by induced fission
Production of neutrons by sources independent of the neutron flux
Loss of neutrons by absorption
Scattering of neutrons to other energies or directions of motion
Leakage of neutrons into or out of each location in the reactor
2008 September 4
Neutron-Balance Equations
Neutron balance is expressed:
essentially exactly, by the time-independent
neutron-transport (Boltzmann) equation, and
to some degree of approximation, by the
neutron-diffusion equation
2008 September 5
Co-Ordinate System
In reactor physics we
usually use the co-
ordinate system
shown in the figure.
The components of O
are:
O
x
= sinu cos
O
y
= sinu sin
O
z
= cosu
Instead of u, we often
use cosu.
2008 September 6
Integrals Over Angle
Using the co-ordinate system above for angles,
integrals over all angles can then be written

( )
} } } } } }

= =
t
t t t
u u u
2
0
0
2
0
1
1
2
0
1
1
cos sin d d d d d d
2008 September 7
Neutron-Transport Equation
The neutron-transport equation is derived in
Duderstadt and Hamilton, p.111-117. Reading
assignment: read and understand these pages.
This is the integro-differential form of the
equation, and it includes the time variable.
Here we will first look at the time-independent
transport equation, therefore the time variable
and time derivatives will not be included for
now.
2008 September 8
Neutron-Transport Equation
From Eq. (4.43) in Duderstadt & Hamilton, I write
the time-independent balance equation (I use the
neutron energy E rather than speed v as a variable):



where s(r,E,O) is the total source of new neutrons
appearing at r with energy E and in direction O.
What is the meaning of all the terms?

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
} }
O
O O O O E +
O E O = O V O
' '
) 1 ( ' ' ' , ' , ' , ' ,
, , , , , , ,
E
s
t
d dE E r E E r
E r E r E r s E r
|
| |
( )
. 2
. inf
, ,
slides f ollowing the in shown is this of derivation The
r at volume initesimal an of out direction in moving
E energy of neutrons of leakage the gives E r
O
O V O |
2008 September 9
Derivation of Expression for Leakage
The leakage of neutrons moving in direction O out of a
differential area dS on a surface is given by:








contd


( )
). (

, ,
angle an at earth the hitting sun the from flux heat of efficacy to similar
surface the to normal outgoing the is S d where S d E r J O

2008 September 10
Derivation of Expression for Leakage
The total leakage of neutrons moving in direction O out
of the volume V bounded by the surface is then the
integral

( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) O V O
O V O = O O V
O O = O
} }
} }
,

int" "
,
, ,

, ,
int
, ' ,

, ,

, ,
r then is po a of out
leakage the arbitrary is V volume the Since
dV E r dV E r
egral volume the as this rewrite can we
theorem Gauss y b and S d E r S d E r J
V V
S S
|
| |
|

2008 September 11
Neutron-Transport Equation








( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
. ) (
4
1
.
., . ,
) 2 ( ' ' , ' , ' ,
:
) (
,
4
1
, , , ,
,
'
isotropic assumed is source f ission the because appears f actor The
E energy with born are which
neutrons of f raction the e i spectrum neutron f ission the is E
dE E r E r E E E r S
source f ission the is S and
f lux neutron the of t independen source neutron external an is S where
E r S E r S E r s
write can we term source the For
E
f f
f
f
t
_
| v _
t

E =
+ O = O
}
2008 September 12
Neutron-Transport Equation
I therefore rewrite the time-independent transport
equation as



It is important to understand each term of the equation.
Explain the other 2 terms which I havent covered yet.
We can then see that the equation, at each position r
and for each energy E, equates the summed loss of
neutrons to the summed production of neutrons.
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( )
} }
O
O O O O E +
O E + O = O V O
' '
)' 1 ( ' ' ' , ' , ' , ' ,
, , , ,
4
1
, , , ,
E
s
t f
d dE E r E E r
E r E r E r S E r S E r
|
|
t
|
2008 September 13
Neutron-Transport Equation (cont.)
Note how complicated the transport equation is:
It involves both derivatives (first-order) and
integrals of the angular flux
It involves integrals over very large ranges in energy
(from several MeV to small fractions of 1 eV), with
quantities (cross sections) which are very complex
functions, especially in the resonance range
It involves 6 independent variables: 3 for space (r),
2 for the neutrons direction of motion (O), and 1
for energy. Because the rates of absorption and
induced fission do not depend on O, it would be
nice if O could be removed as a variable.
2008 September 14
Neutron-Diffusion Equation
The neutron-diffusion equation is an approximation to
the neutron-transport equation.
It is much simpler than the transport equation, because
it removes the neutron direction of motion from
consideration, i.e., the dependent variable is the total
flux at each energy rather than the angular flux, and
it is based on an approximate relationship between
the neutron current and the total (not the angular)
neutron flux for any given energy E; this relationship
is called Ficks Law:


( ) ( ) ( ) ) 3 ( , , , E r E r D E r J | V =

2008 September 15
Diffusion Coefficient
In Eq. (3), under the proportionality constant between the
current and the gradient of the flux is called the diffusion
constant D(r,E).
Under the approximations that the angular flux |(O) is
only weakly dependent on angle, i.e., at most linear in ,
and that the neutron sources are isotropic, D can be
shown to be (see derivation in Duderstadt & Hamilton in
the 1-speed approximation, pages 133-136):

( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) . sec ,
, cos
) 4 (
, 3
1
, , 3
1
,
0
0
tion cross transport the called is E r and
angle scattering the of ine the of value average the is where
E r E r E r
E r D
tr
tr s t
E
E

E E
=

2008 September 16
Neutron-Diffusion Equation (cont.)
Note: Ficks Law expresses the fact that in regions of totally free
neutron motion the net neutron current will be along the
direction of greatest decrease in the neutron density (or,
equivalently, of flux), i.e., it will be proportional to the negative
of the gradient of the flux.
This is a consequence of the random nature of collisions in all
directions, and the greater number of collisions in regions of
greater density.
The approximation inherent in Ficks Law breaks down near
regions of strong sources or strong absorption, or near
boundaries between regions with large differences in properties,
or external boundaries, because the motion and collisions of
neutrons are biased in or near such regions.
This is why diffusion theory cannot be used in lattice physics, as
the fuel itself is a strong neutron absorber. Transport theory
must be used to homogenize properties (and therefore weaken
absorption, on the average) over (relatively large) lattice cells.
2008 September 17
Neutron-Diffusion Equation (cont.)
The neutron-diffusion equation is derived in Duderstadt &
Hamilton on pages 124-140. Assignment: Read, or at least scan,
this derivation, and ensure you understand the final result, Eq. (4-
162).
The equation can also be derived simply by writing down the
neutron balance at any given energy E within a differential volume
at r, and applying Ficks Law for the relationship between the
current and the flux. The neutron balance (neutron-diffusion
equation) then has the following form, where I have left out the
time dependence:




Exercise: identify the meaning and structure of each term in the
diffusion equation.

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
}
}
+ E =
E E + V V
'
'
) 5 ( , ' ' , ' ,
' ' , ' , , , , ,
E
f
E
s t
E r S dE E r E r E
dE E r E E r E r E r E r E r D
| v _
| | |
2008 September 18
Application of Transport & Diffusion Equations
The transport equation is the most accurate (essentially
exact) representation of neutronics in the reactor.
Therefore, ideally, it should be the equation to solve for
all problems in reactor physics.
However, because of its complexity, it is very difficult,
or extremely time-consuming, to apply the transport
equation to full-core calculations.
So the neutronics problem is divided into stages, taking
advantage of the modular (or nearly modular)
geometry of the reactor lattice, as explained in the next
slides. contd

2008 September 19
Basic CANDU Lattice Cell with 37-Element Fuel




D2O
Primary
Coolant

Gas Annulus
Fuel Elements
Pressure Tube
Calandria Tube
Moderator
2008 September 20
Application of Transport & Diffusion Equations
For practicality, the transport equation is applied to
small regions of the reactor (lattice basic cells):
to find the detailed flux in space and energy in these
cells, and
to derive homogenized properties (cross sections),
uniform over each lattice cell and which are collapsed
onto a very small number of energy groups (as few as
2 groups), for application over full-core models with
diffusion theory.
This is actually the strategy used most frequently, and
successfully, in the design and analysis of nuclear
reactors.
2008 September 21
Application of the Neutron-Diffusion Equation
As previously indicated, the neutron-diffusion equation
is applied mostly in full-core calculations, because of
its much greater simplicity than the transport equation.
Full-core models (see example in next slide) consist of
homogeneous (uniform) properties over lattice cells, or
large portions of cells, for a small number of neutron
energy groups.
The flux distribution (or flux shape) in the reactor (one
value per parallelepiped and energy group) is then
obtained by solving the diffusion equation - often in its
finite-difference form.
2008 September 22
Full-Core Diffusion Model
The parallelepipeds
(cells) over which
the flux is
calculated are
defined by the
intersections of the
horizontal and
vertical mesh lines,
shown on the left
and top axes.
2008 September 23
Interface & Boundary Conditions
To solve the transport or diffusion equation, we
generally subdivide (as described earlier) the
overall domain into regions within which the
coefficients in the equations (i.e., the nuclear
properties) are constant (e.g., homogenized).
The equation is then solved over each region,
and the solutions must be connected by
interface conditions at the interfaces (infinitely
thin virtual surfaces) between regions.
We also generally need boundary conditions at
the external boundary of the domain.
2008 September 24
Interface & Boundary Conditions for Transport
The Boltzmann transport equation has derivatives of first order
we need one interface condition at each interface, and one
boundary condition
At interfaces the angular flux must be continuous (since there are
no sources or scatterers at an infinitely thin virtual interface):


where r
+
and r
-
are the two sides of the interface
At r
v
, an outer boundary (assumed convex) with a vacuum, no
neutrons can enter, since the vacuum has no neutron sources or
scatterers:



( ) ( ) ) 6 ( , , , , O O = O
+
all and E all for E r E r | |
( ) ) 7 ( int int 0 , , reactor the o ing po all for E r
v
O = O |
2008 September 25
Interface & Boundary Conditions for Diffusion
Interface conditions at each interface: The total
flux and the total current at each energy must be
continuous (since they are integrals of the
angular flux, which is continuous):





( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ) 8 ( , , , , E all for E r J E r J and E r E r
+ +
= = | |
2008 September 26
Vacuum Boundary Condition for Diffusion
For the boundary condition with a vacuum, I have
included a problem in Assignment 2, for you to derive
the condition. Review also Duderstadt & Hamilton
pages 142-144.

2008 September 27
Vacuum Boundary Condition for Diffusion
The boundary condition is written as a relation between
the flux and its gradient at the vacuum boundary - see
Eqs. (4.175)-(4.180) in Duderstadt & Hamilton.
If in our case the boundary is on the right-hand side and
at z
s
(see previous slide), the relationship is ultimately
written





( )
( )
| | ) 10 (
1
)' 9 ( 0 71 . 0
: ,
) 9 ( 0 71 . 0
path f ree mean transport where
dz
d
z
right on or lef t on boundary a f or generally and
dz
d
z
tr
tr
z
tr s
z
tr s
z
s

E
=
=
= +

|
|
|
|
2008 September 28
Extrapolation Distance
The boundary condition Eq.(9) can be interpreted geometrically
as follows.
If one extrapolates the diffusion flux linearly away from the
boundary, it would go to zero at an extrapolation point z
ex
beyond
the boundary z
s
:

Note that the flux does not actually go to zero, but the boundary
condition is mathematically equivalent to flux = 0 at z
ex
.
d 0.71
tr
is therefore called the extrapolation distance.
The boundary condition can be applied as is in Eq. (9), i.e., as a
relationship between the flux and its derivative at the physical
boundary z
s,
but it is also often applied by extending the reactor
region to a new boundary at z
s
+d, and forcing the flux to be zero
there. (This represents an approximation - usually small - since it
means assuming the reactor is slightly larger than it really is.)
) 11 ( 71 . 0
tr s ex
z z + =
2008 September 29
1-Energy-Group Neutron-Diffusion Equation
Diffusion theory is applied mostly in 1 or 2 energy
groups, or at most a few energy groups.
So lets start with the simplest case: 1 energy group.
In this case, the energy ranges in Eq. (5) are reduced to
a single distinct energy value, and therefore the energy
label can simply be removed.
If we assume that all neutrons have the same energy (or
speed), Eq. (5) reduces to the following [Eq. (4.149) in
Duderstadt & Hamilton, without the time dependence]:

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ) 12 ( r S r r r r r r D
f a
+ E = E + V V | v | |
2008 September 30
Interactive Discussion/Exercise
Derive Eq. (12) from Eq. (5); in particular,
explain how the E
a
arises, and why _
disappears.


2008 September 31
Derivation of Eq. (12) from Eq. (5)



( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( ) .
, sin int
. 1 , 1
.
, log 1
) 5 ( , ' ' , ' ,
' ' , ' , , , , ,
: ) 5 .(
'
'
a a s t
s s
E
f
E
s t
as simply written be can E E E
and E of value gle the to reduces over egral The
shown be not need and E energy only is there Since
dropped be theref ore can and
same the are labels energy all y methodo group the In
E r S dE E r E r E
dE E r E E r E r E r E r E r D
f ollows as is Eq
E E E E
E E
=

+ E =
E E + V V
}
}
_
| v _
| | |
2008 September 32
Operator Formulation
From Eq. (12) we can see that for the 1-group diffusion
equation, the flux vector and the operators take the form





and the diffusion equation in operator form is



( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ) 16 (
) 15 (
) 14 (
) 13 (
r S r
r r D r
r r
r r
a
f
=
E + V V =
E =
=
S
M
F

v
|
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ) 17 ( r r r r r S F M + =
2008 September 33



END