Dynamics and transient stability of a pebble bed reactor during start up

A design of a modular pebble bed reactor (PBR) is being developed for construction in South Africa. The design of this PBR is simulated in the FETCH nuclear criticality model. FETCH solves the neutron transport equations coupled to fluid dynamics and has been used in simulations of fluidized bed reactors. In the neutronics module of FETCH steady state neutronic calculations are performed to obtain the starting conditions for the subsequent calculation of transient behaviour. These include fuel temperature and control rod position. Neutron flux and the initial surplus reactivity are also calculated. Each step change in a simulated start-up is initiated by an excess reactivity which produces more severe transients than would be encountered in normal operation. The variations of several parameters with time are recorded, for example, temperature at various points in the reactor, temperature of the hottest pebble and fission rate. Spatial profiles are recorded at regular time intervals, including temperatures, power density, gas velocity and gas pressure. The stability of the reactor is demonstrated