Numerical Simulation of the Measurements Performed during the Physical Startup Tests of Unit 1 of Novovoronezh II Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

The article presents the results of numerical simulation of the experiments conducted during the physical start-up of unit 1 of the Novovoronezh II NPP. The list of measured parameters includes the critical concentration of boric acid and the scram efficiency. The calculations were performed using both the RAINBOW-TPP code intended for the combined neutronics and thermal-hydraulic calculation of the reactor facility and precision neutronics Monte Carlo codes. The scram efficiency was defined from steady-state calculations and using the inverse kinetics equation solution method based on numerical simulation of the neutron flux at the location of the ionization chambers. The results of the numerical simulation of the scram efficiency were compared with the measured data defined in the course of the physical start-up.