CA7Z0323Z

AECL-59U

ATOMIC ENERGY m f f & L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE

OF CANADA LIMITED Y f i j r DU CANADA LIMITÉE

CONFIRMATION OF CANDU SHUTDOWN SYSTEM DESIGN

AND PERFORMANCE DURING COMMISSIONING

by

A.R. DASTUR, G. KUGLER, B. ROUBEN and H.Y.H. LI

Presented at the American Nuclear Society Thermal Reactor

Safety Conference, Sun Valley, Idaho, 1-4 August 1977

Power Projects
Sheridan Park Research Community

Mississauga, Ontario

October 1977
 CONFIRMATION OF CANDU SHUTDOWN SYSTEM DESIGN
AND PERFORMANCE DURING COMMISSIONING

by

A.R. Dastur
G. Kugler
B. Rouben
H.Y.H. Li

Presented at the American Nuclear Society Thermal Reactor

Safety Conference, Sun Valley, Idaho, 1 - 4 August 1977.

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

Power Projects
Sheridan Park Research Community
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B2
October 1977

AECL-5914
 CONFIRMATION DU CALCUL DU SYSTEME D'ARRET D'UN
REACTEUR CANDU ET DE SA PERFORMANCE PENDANT LA MISE EN SERVICE

par

A.R. Dastur, G. Kugler, B. Rouben, H.Y.H. Li

RESUME

Les transitoires de puissance à dépendance spatiale sont calculés

pour le réacteur CANDU pendant le fonctionnement du système d'arrêt. Le
code machine utilisé est basé sur la méthode quasi-statique améliorée.
Divers calculs de la réactivité statique et de la distribution du flux sont
également effectués. On les compare aux résultats des essais dynamiques et
statiques effectués pendant la mise en service de la centrale Bruce A.
L'accord entre les simulations et l'expérience a confirmé la grandeur prédite
pour les principaux facteurs qui influencent la cinétique spatiale des
réacteurs CANDU.

Présentation faite à la conférence de 1'American Nuclear Society sur la

sûreté thermique des réacteurs, Sun Valley, Idaho, 1 - 4 août 1977.

L'Energie Atomique du Canada Limitée

Groupe Electronucléaire
Sheridan Park Research Community
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B2
Octobre 1977
AECL-5914
 CONFIRMATION OF CANDU SHUTDOWN SYSTEM DESIGN
AND PERFORMANCE DURING COMMISSIONING

by

A.R. Dastur, G. Kugler, B. Rouben, H.Y.H. Li

ABSTRACT

Spatially-dependent power transients during shutdown-system operation

are calculated for a CANDU reactor. The computer code used is based on the
Improved Quasistatic method. Various calculations of static reactivity and
flux distribution are also performed. Comparison is made to results of
dynamic and static tests carried out during commissioning of the Bruce A G.S.
The agreement between simulations and experiment confirms the predicted
magnitude of the major factors influencing spatial kinetics in CANDU reactors.

Presented at the American Nuclear Society Thermal Reactor Safety Conference,

Sun Valley, Idaho, 1 - k August 1977.

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

Power Projects
Sheridan Park Research Community
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5K 1B2
October 1977
AECL-5914
 CONTENTS

Page

1. Introduction 1

2. Description of the Experiments 1

2.1 Dynamic Tests 2

2.2 Static Tests 2

3. Description of the Calculations 2

4. Results k

k.\ Dynamic Tests k

k.2 Static Tests 5

5. Conclusions 6

6. Acknowledgements 6

7. References 7

Tables 8

Figures 9
 LIST OF TABLES

Table No. Title

I Delayed Neutron Data (Six Precursor Groups)
II Boron Equivalence of 30 and 28 Shutoff Rods
III Reactivity Worth of Individual or Small Groups of Rods

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No. Title

1 Reactor Assembly
2 Schematic Top View of Reactor
3a Reactor Model (Top View)
3b Reactor Model (Side View, West Face)
k Typical Supercel1 Model
5 Rod-drop Curves
6 SDS1 Test - 30 Rods (Unit 1)
7 SDS1 Test - 30 Rods (Unit 1)
8 SDS1 Test - 30 Rods (Unit 1)
9 SDS1 Test - 30 Rods (Unit 1)
10 SDS1 Test - 30 Rods (Unit 2)
11 SDS1 Test - 28 Rods (Unit 2)
12 Dynamic Reactivity Curves - 30 Rods
13 Thermal Flux Distribution in HFM #1 of Unit 1
Bruce A, 28 Shutoff Rods in Core (SA15, 2 ^ out)
 CONFIRMATION OF CANDU SHUTDOWN SYSTEM DESIGN
AND PERFORMANCE DURING COMMISSIONING

by

A.R. Dastur, G. Kugler, B. Rouben, H.Y.H. Li

1. INTRODUCTION

The major factors influencing space-dependent neutron kinetics

of CANDU"sreactors have been reported in reference 1. These are:
(a) neutronic decoupling of reactor segments, (b) retardation of flux
shape changes due to delayed-neutron holdback, and (c) postulated
asymmetric insertion of reactivity devices.

During the commissioning phase of the first two units of the

Bruce A nuclear generating station the shutdown systems were tested.
These tests allowed confirmation of the predictions given in reference 1.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIMENTS

The Bruce reactor is a horizontal cylinder, 8.5 m in diameter

and 6 m in length (see Figure 1). The (horizontal) fuel channels are
arranged in a square lattice of 28.57 cm pitch. In each channel the fuel
is loaded in bundles of 50 cm length. Figure 2 shows a schematic top
view of the reactor and of the shutoff rod shutdown system. There are
30 shutoff rods, each 5.7 m long, which are dropped into the core between
fuel channels.

This analysis includes situations where the two most effective

rods are assumed unavailable. Calculations done for the core under nominal
conditions identified these as SA15 and SA2if. Note from Figure 3 that these
rods are adjacent and on one side of the core.

is
CANDU - Canada Deuterium Uranium
 - 2 -

2.1 Dynamic Tests

The shutdown transients following 30-rod drop and 28-rod drop

were obtained by recording the output of flux detectors (ion chambers)
located at various positions.

In Unit 2 chart- and Brush-type recorders with mechanical pens

were used to record the transients. In Unit I Visicorders were used,
which gave a faster response, and these were found to be more satisfactory.

2.2 Static Tests

The reactivity worth of the shutoff rods was measured against

boron poison in the moderator. The reactor was made critical with the
rods inserted and the Poison Inject'on System armed. Addition of boron to
the moderator maintained criticality while the rods were withdrawn.
The amount added was noted for 28 and 30 rods.

Additional measurements were made against the reactor Zone

Control Assemblies (the latter are compartments with variable amounts
of H_0). These measurements involved fewer rods because of the limited
reactivity range available.

With 28 rods inserted the neutron flux distribution was measured

in the horizontal direction across the fuel channels with a copper-wire-
activation technique.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE CALCULATIONS

Face and top views of the reactor model used in the dynamic
simulations are shown in Figures 3a and 3b. Finite-difference methods
are used throughout, and the model was constructed with W], 3' and 17
points in the x, y and z directions, respectively. The typical mesh
dimensions are 1/2 lattice pitch (~ l*t cm) in the x direction, 1 lattice
 - 3-

pitch (~ 28 cm) in y, and 1 bundle length (50 cm) in z. In the static

simulations a model with more mesh points in the axial direction (45)
was employed.

The use of this relatively coarse mesh in the modelling was

made possible by the SUPERCELL method. ' In this method the cell
(see Figure k) includes a shutoff rod, a fuel channel and moderator. The
shutoff rod and fuel are modelled by applying boundary conditions at
internal surfaces. Diffusion theory is used to calculate the flux in the
moderator. The calculated reaction rates allow the definition of average
cross sections for the supercell. These are input directly into the
finite-reactor calculation. No normalization to any other experiments
was carried out.

Finite reactor calculations were done with two-group diffusion

theory. The dynamic experiments were simulated with CERBERUS, a two-group,
three-dimensional, finite-difference code which uses the Improved
Quasistatic (|Q_S) method. ' The accuracy of this code has been tested
against experiments designed to emphasize delayed neutron holdup. (3)

The IQ.S method allows the use of relatively large time intervals
at which the lengthy shape calculation must be performed. These times
were chosen as the instants at which the leading edge of the shutoff rods
is coincident with successive horizontal mesh lines. This depends on the
speed of the rods. Out-of-core measurements showed some scatter in the
rate of rod drop. As a result, two transients were calculated in each
case. The FAST transient was based on the fastest drop measured in the
laboratory tests (FAST LIMIT curve in Figure 5 ) . The SLOW transient was
calculated with a slower rod drop characteristic (SLOW LIMIT curve of
Figure 5 ) . to study the sensitivity of neutron transients to possible
scatter in the rod drop rates. The time intervals between shape
calculations ranged typically between 0.05 and 0.09 seconds. Subsequent
in-core measurements indicated that the motion of most of the rods
corresponded closely to the FAST curve in Figure 5.
 - k-

Six delayed neutron precursor groups based on data reported in

reference 4 were assumed. For further differentiation between the FAST
and SLOW transients, photoneutrons were included in the data for the
latter, but excluded from the former. The inclusion of photoneutrons is
expected to have approximately a 2% (absolute) effect on the prompt flux
decay. However, because of the generally smaller time constants of the
photoneutrons, the transient behaviour over the first few seconds following
rod drop is not significantly influenced. The two sets of data are
summarized in Table 1.

if. RESULTS

k. 1 Dynamic Tests

Transients following 30-rod drop are compared with calculation

in Figures 6 - 9 . These were recorded on Visicorders (fast responding).
The calculated transients provide an indication of the magnitude of the
variation in neutron transients due to differences in speed of rod drop
as assumed in Figure 5. The measurements fall close to the FAST calculated
transient, in accordance with the fact that most rods were found to fall at
the corresponding speed.

A convenient measure of the calculational accuracy is given by

2
X • This is defined as the mean square deviation of the measurements from
the average of the fast and slow transients, relative to the half-band width.
The x corresponding to rod travel in the core is 1.2.

Calculated and measured transients following 30-rod and 28-rod

drop in Unit 2 are compared in Figures 10 and 11. These were recorded
with the slower responding mechanical pens, which explains the poorer
agreement with calculations.

For both types of recording equipment, the obse, /ed flux levels at
full insertion fall in the calculated band, or within 2% of initial flux
from it.
 - 5-

The asymptotic flux at full insertion is significant in the

context of delayed neutron holdback. Figure 12 shows the dynamic
reactivity calculated in CERBERUS for the 30-rod case. The static
reactivity of the rods is also given. The dynamic reactivity at full
insertion is more negative than the static. This is because of the retardation
of the flux shape brought about by delayed neutron holdup, together with
neutronic decoupling. This retardation enhances the importance of the rods
and their reactivity. '

The agreement between measured and predicted transients substan-

tiates the magnitude of the predicted effect of retardation and decoupling
on shutoff rod effectiveness and confirms the analytical method used (IQ.S).

k.2 Static Tests

The results of the calibration of the shutdown system against

boron poison in the moderator are tabulated in Table II. Measured and
predicted values for both 30 rods and 28 rods (SA15 and SA24 missing) are
given.

The calculated values are within k or 5% of the measurements.

This substantiates the theoretical prediction that whereas the average rod
worth with all rods inserted is equivalent to about 0.110 ppm B, the
reactivity worth of the two missing rods is 0.35 ppm B per rod, a factor
of 3 higher. This difference is apparent also in the dynamic reactivity
(the factor being 2 ) , and illustrates the effect of the neutronic
decoupling of the region having missing rods from the rest of the system.

Further measurements are compared with calculations in Table III.

The agreement, which is within ± 3.7% on the average, verifies the
analytical methods used, in particular the SUPERCELL calculation.
 - 6 -

Finally, the measured neutron flux distribution in the horizontal

direction is plotted in Figure 13. The macroscopic flux changes by a
factor of 5 in a distance of 5 or 6 migration lengths from the location of
the absent shutoff rods. The agreement between the calculated and measured
curves is < 2% in high flux regions. The high gradients found are
predicted to within 3% by the simulation.

5. CONCLUSIONS

The observed agreement between measured and calculated neutron

transients (assuming the FAST rod drop characteristics) validates our
modelling of the Bruce A shutoff rod system. The calculation of both a
FAST and a SLOW transient provides a measure of the sensitivity of the
results to differences in rod drop characteristics.

This study confirms that delayed-neutron-source distribution

together with neutronic decoupling significantly influence dynamic flux
shapes. The associated predicted enhancement of the effectiveness of the
shutoff rods is also confirmed by experiment. This substantiates
confidence in the analytical bases to be used in the design and safety
analysis of the shutdown system (IQS method, SUPERCELL representation
of the shutoff rods).

The agreement between the calculated and measured static flux

distribution for 30 and 28 shutoff rods in core confirms the adequacy of
the finite-difference model in calculating flux distributions with large
gradients.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The cooperation in planning and execution of the experiments by

Bruce Station staff is acknowledged. In particular, the effects of Messrs.
J.R. Enselmoz and D. Phillips are appreciated. In addition, the following
were of great assistance in performing the experiments and calculations:
R.A. Brown, A. Lopez, P. Michael, I.N. Daly (of Ontario Hydro); A. Okazaki,
V.K. Mohindra, A.A. Pasanen, M. Mamourian, E.S.Y. Tin (of AECL).
 - 7 -

7. REFERENCES

1. A.R. Dastur and D.B. Buss, Space-Time Kinetics of CANDU Systems,

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Report AECL-5181, July 1975.

2. K.O. Ott and D.A. Meneley, Accuracy of the Quasistatic Treatment

of Spatial Reactor Kinetics, Nuclear Science and Engineering ]&,
402 (I969).

3. G. Kugler and A.R. Dastur, Accuracy of the Improved Quasistatic

Space-Time Method Checked with Experiment, Atomic Energy of
Canada Limited, Report AECL-5553, October 1976.

k. R.J. Tuttle, Delayed Neutron Data for Reactor Physics Analysis,

Nuclear Science and Engineering, 56jl), 37-71 (1975).

5. A. Okazaki, D.H. Walker, and M.H.M. Roshd, Flux Distribution

Measurements'in the Gentilly Reactor, Atomic Energy of Canada
Limited, Report AECL-3962, July 1971.
 - 8 -

TABLE I

Delayed Neutron Data

(S;x Precursor Groups)

Fast Transient Slow Transient

X, (sec"1) X. (s-1)
Pi ^i

0.000213 0.0124 0.000385 O.OOO73

0.001456 0.0306 0.001525 0.0317
0.001337 0.1138 0.001384 0.1171
0.002742 0.3076 0.003254 0.3128
0.000892 1.1961 0.001046 1.4019
0.000318 3.2062 0.000239 3.9112

Total P 0.006958 0.007833

TABLE I I

Boron Equivalence of 30 and 28 Shutoff Rods

Boron Equivalence (ppm)

Configuration Deviation (%)
Calculated Experimental

30 rods 3.45 3.30 + 4.5

28 rods 2.75 2.65 + 3.8

TABLE Ml
Reactivity Worth of Individual or Small Groups of Rods

Reactivity Worth (milli-k)

Configuration Deviation (%)
Calculated Experimental

SA5 inserted 1.51 1.41 + 7.1

SA20 inserted 1.46 1.49 - 2.0
CA3 and CA4* inserted 2.59 2.53 + 2.4
CA1,2,3,4* inserted 4.96 4.80 + 3.3

* These rods are physically îdentîcal to shutoff rods, but are used
for control purposes only.
 N

STEEL M I L SHIELDING (END SHIELD)

MANHOLE
PRESSURE RELIEF PIPES
MODERATO! INLETS
MODERATOR OUT1ETS
REACTIVITY CONTROL ROD NOZZLES
ROOSTER ROD
CAIANDKIA SHUT.OFF ROD
CAIANDIIA SHEU It ZONE CONTROL ROD
CAIANORIA SIDE TUIE SHEET 30 FlUX MONITOR
RAFFLE PLATE 31 FLU» MONITOR AND POISON INJECTION
FUELLING MACHINE SIDE TUIE SHEET 33 END SHIELD COOLING PIPING
LATTICE T U I l 33 SHIELD TANK
END FITTINGS 34 SHIELD TANK («TENSION
FIEDI» 35 RUPTURE DISC ASSEMUY
CAIANDIIA TURFS 36 MODERATOR INLET HEAOER
SHIELD TANK, SOLID SNIELDINO 37 MODERATOR OVERFLOW

FIGURE 1 REACTOR ASSEMBLY

 - 10 -

NORTH
C/L

TOP VIEW

WEST ,«—-•- EAST

• I •
o Io
I

SOUTH
O MISSING RODS
• SHUT-OFF ROD LOCATIONS
• MECHANICAL CONTROL -
ABSORBER LOCATIONS

FIGURE 2 SCHEMATIC TOP VIEW OF REACTOR

 - 11 -

CZJ SHUT-OFF ROD

f
[ZONE CONTROLLER
NORTH
•2 • 4.525
3 50.0
•

4 28.575
•
5 28.575
6 28.575
7 28.575
a; 28.575
SA 20 SA 11 14.2875
SA 13 12
I
I SA 21 SA 12
15;
I SA 8
17
SA 16 Z
20;
WEST SA 17
22; EAi r
SAMÔ 23;
24
SAIS
I
26;
27.
29;
SA 19 30;
31
SA 9 32.
33.
SA 23 SA 14 34"
35.
SA 22 36.
37.
I SA 24 SAIS 38. 1
39
40. 14.2875
41 28.575
42 28.575
43 28.575
44 28.575
45" 28.575

46 54.525

47"
2 i I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 ». 9 • 10 I 11i12i13i 14 i 15 • 16 i 17

in m
se O) ci *i * *t ai ai ci
ss SOUTH

FIGURE 3a REACTOR MODEL (TOP VIEW)

 - 12 -

m m m in ID WN in in m in in
r^ p** r** ^"** r^ ^^ C Q £ S £ !n £
i n p it)i in in in in CM S
*i à cri co oo œ co *t
in N n (N N w r-

25.95
28.575

1
28.575
54.525

— — — NOTCH

p ZONE CONTROLLER (EMPTY)

HI
«H
ZONE CONTROLLER (FULL)
REFLECTOR
(2) NATURAL FUEL
(3) DEPLETED FUEL
IN SOME BUNDLES

FIGURE 3b REACTOR MODEL (SIDE VIEW, WEST FACE)

 - 13 -

FIGURE 4 TYPICAL SUPERCELL MODEL

0 .2 .4 1.0 12 1.4 1.6 IS 2.0 22 2.4

TIME ISECONDSI

FIGURE 5 ROD-DROP CURVES

 100 ION CHAMBER IC5 • ATEXTERIORCALANDRIAWALL
f
— x COORDINATES (0 0.448 9.287 31 m
+VISICORDERDATA

v\\X\ \
90

80

+
70 \+\ \ N
\

S 60

1
ï 50
<t \ \
5
ce
O
\ \
Z 40
+\ \
\ \
30 \ X
20

.10

• I I I • 1 I I I I
10 1.2
TIME (SECONDS)

FIGURE 6 SDS 1 TEST - 3 0 RODS (UNIT 1)

i i r i i
SPECIAL FISSION ION CHAMBER NFM2 - NEAR SA15
COORDINATES 1626.0.511.7.378 91 cm
+ VISICOHDER DATA

n.
.8 1.0 1.2
I
TIME (SECONDS)

FIGURE 7 SDS 1 TEST - 30 RODS {UNIT 1)

 tON CHAMBER IC3-AT EXTERIOR CAIANDRIA WALL
COORDINATES 10 0.148 9.396 51cm
+ VISICORDER DATA

.8 10 1.2
TIME ISECONOSI

FIGURE 8 SDS 1 TEST - 30 RODS (UNIT 1)

ION CHAMBER ICI - AT EXTERIOR CALANDRIA WAUL

COORDINATES 10.0.403 1.341.91 cm
+ VISICORDERDATA

'*--S.

10 1.2
TIME (SECONDS)

FIGURE 9 SDS 1 TEST - 30 RODS (UNIT 1)

 - 16 -

SPECIAL FISSION ION CHAMBFR Ni <R SAlb

COORDINATES (626.0. 511.7. 37B.9I cm

CHART RECORDER DATA

a
I? 50
<
5
ce
o
Z 40

.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6

TIME (SECONDSI

FIGURE 10 SDS1 TEST-30 RODS (UNIT 2)

SPECIAL FISSION ION CHAMBER NEAR SA15

COORDINATES (626.0. 5117. 37B 91 cm

• CHAHT RECORDED DATA

1.0 1.2
TiMe ISECONDSI

FIGURE 11 SDS 1 TEST - 28 RODS (UNIT 2)

 - 17 -

10 1.2
TIME ISECONDSI

FIGURE 12 DYNAMIC REACTIVITY CURVES - 30 RODS

+ + Cu WIRE MEASUREMENT PLOT IS FHOM NORTH TO SOUTH

—_ SIMULATION

I I
- I B -14
I
-1?
I
-10
I I I -2 0 2 » B 10 12 M 15
DISTANCE FROM CENTER LINE (L.P.I

FIGURE 13 THERMAL FLUX DISTRIBUTION IN HFM #1 OF

UNIT BRUCE A, 28 SHUTOFF RODS IN CORE
(SA 15, 24 OUT)
 The International Standard Serial Number

ISSN 0067-0367

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Please refer to the AECL- number when

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1983-77