Enhancement of direct whole core calculation code in nTRACER with WIMS-IAEA library and comparative analyses - 15213

To enhance the capabilities of the nTRACER, a direct whole core calculation code, the capability to process the WIMS-IAEA library is implemented so that resonance shielded effective cross sections (XSs) are determined by the equivalence theory based resonance integral table method rather than by the subgroup method, and that the newly generated in-scattering based transport cross sections are used. The Dancoff factors and the background XSs are evaluated by the enhanced neutron current method while the resonance interference treatment is performed by the conventional Bondarenko iteration method. The transport XSs for the major light nuclides are generated by a unique in-scattering conservation transport correction method. The accuracy of the newly implemented resonance treatment method is verified by comparing the effective XSs with those obtained by the McCARD Monte Carlo code first for a homogeneous problem. The WIMS-IAEA library based nTRACER calculations are then performed for the VERA benchmark problems that span from pin cell problems to the quarter core problems and the results are compared with those of KENO-VI and those of the original library based nTRACER calculations. (authors)