Validation of a new numerical neutron flux solver in APOLLO3 code

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2011 in the subject Physics - Nuclear Physics, Molecular Physics, Solid State Physics, , language: English, abstract: The aim of this work is to test and compare the performance of three APOLLO3 flux solvers which are: MINOS IDT and NEMO against reference Monte Carlo and to test the new neutron transport equation solver NEMO. This testing is limited to numerical aspects by comparing the differences between: keff, flux and CPU time resulting of the three solvers. We will compare the value of keff against reference Monte Carlo. To do this we will expose these solvers to three benchmark problems: ZPR 1D, Stepanek, Takeda. In general the three solvers shows a very good agreements with Monte Carlo and sometimes with much less CPU time. Good results were founded by NEMO This work was performed at CEA, Saclay, DM2S/SERMA. The APOLLO3 code is being developed by SERMA (Service d'Etudes de Réacteurs et de Mathématiques Appliquées du CEA). Its purpose is to provide a neutronic codes and studies for both thermal spectrum reactors and fast spectrum reactors. APOLLO3 code has four deterministic solvers MINOS, IDT, MINARET, TDT and recently a new solver called NEMO is introduced on an experimental basis. These different solvers have a common object that is to calculate the flux by solving the neutron transport equation, each of these solver uses different numerical methods for an angular variable and for a spatial variable