Transient analysis on the fixed bed nuclear reactor

Modular in design enables Fixed Bed Nuclear Reactor (FBNR) power controlled by the adjustment of suspended core and coolant flow rate. The main purposes of this paper are to learn the change of thermal power caused by the change of suspended core height and coolant flow rate, and also to learn the inherent safety when loss of heat sink condition prevailed. The Core was modelled on steady condition by using Standard Reactor Analysis Code (SRAC) to obtain neutron flux, group constants, delayed neutron fraction, delayed neutron precursor decay constants, and several core parameters. These data will be used as initial value on the transient calculations. Transient analysis was conducted on the following conditions: coolant flow rate changes, suspended core height changes and loss of heat sink occurs. The calculated result showed that when the coolant flow rate is 50% decreased, thermal power of FBNR is 28% decreased. When suspended core height is 30% decreased, thermal power of FBNR is 17% decreased. Meanwhile, thermal power at loss of heat sink condition is 76% decreased. Therefore, the adjustment of suspended core height and coolant flow rate can control thermal power of FBNR, and FBNR's inherent safety is reliable at loss of heat sink condition. (author)