Investigation of the continuous-energy sensitivity methods in scale 6.2 using Tsunami-3D - 14579

The SCALE 6.1 code system includes a multigroup (MG) method for three-dimensional (3D) sensitivity analyses via the Tools for Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis Methodology Implementation (TSUNAMI), and the upcoming release of SCALE 6.2 will feature the system's first implementation of continuous-energy (CE) sensitivity methods. Detailed information regarding the CE TSUNAMI-3D eigenvalue sensitivity methods is provided in a companion paper. This work compares the results of TSUNAMI-3D calculations using the traditional MG approach to the new CE CLUTCH method in SCALE 6.2. The systems examined in this study include combinations of fast, thermal, and mixed spectra with metal, compound, and solution material forms. The primary fissile species include low-enriched uranium, intermediate-enriched uranium, high-enriched uranium, plutonium, and mixed uranium and plutonium. This broad range of systems expands the experience base with the CE CLUTCH method, identifies best practices for using the code, and provides generic user guidance for utilizing this new capability. Additionally, the study demonstrates the accuracy and usefulness of the CE CLUTCH method, especially for systems for which MG methods perform poorly. (authors)