Development and validation of Monte-Carlo burnup calculation code MCNTRANS

A new nuclear fuel burnup calculation code MCNTRANS based on MCNP was introduced in this paper. The neutronics calculation parameter was extracted from the MCNP5 reaction rate tally result, while a graph theory algorithm was implemented to track the burnup chain and the analytic solution of the Bateman equation was given. At the same time, the detailed physical process was considered to improve the accuracy and serviceability of this code, and prediction-correction method was used to allow a large burnup step. The OECD/NEA and JAERI pin cell benchmark problems were used to validate the code MCNTRANS while a reference result was given by other code. It can be concluded that the calculation results of MCNTRANS are generally consistent with the experimental result and that of the other burnup codes, and part of the actinides and fission products calculation result show better accuracy. (authors)