TSUNAMI-3D and SAMPLER/KENO comparison for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis in neutron multiplication factor for LWRs

The use of Best-Estimate computer codes is one of the greatest concerns in the nuclear industry especially for licensing analysis. Of paramount importance is the estimation of the uncertainties of the whole system in order to establish the safety margins based on high reliable results. The estimation of these uncertainties should be performed by applying a methodology to propagate the uncertainties from the input parameters and the models implemented in the code to the output parameters. In this study, two different approaches have been used for the Sensitivity Analysis (SA) and Uncertainty Quantification (UQ), the adjoint-based perturbation theory of TSUNAMI-3D, and the stochastic sampling technique of SAMPLER/KENO. Two models of Light Water Reactors were studied in the framework of the OECD/NEA UAM-LWR benchmark, a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) and a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). Both of them at Hot Full Power (HFP) and Hot Zero Power (HZP) conditions, with and without control rod. The presentation of the k_eff results of all simulation and a comparison of both methods will be discussed. (authors)