ANALYSIS OF POWER PEAKING FACTOR REACTOR CORE TRIGA 2000 BANDUNG USING OPENMC PROGRAM Fajri Prasetya (a*), Nuri Trianti (b), Ratna Dewi Syarifah (c), Zaki Su^ud (a), Efrizon Umar (b)
(a) Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Ganesha Street No. 10, Siliwangi, Coblong Subdistrict, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, 40132
*prasfajri[at]gmail.com
(b) Nuclear Reactor Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Tamansari Street No. 71, Siliwangi, Coblong Subdistrict, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia, 40132
(c) Department of Physics, Universitas Jember, Kalimantan Street, No 37, Krajan Timur, Sumbersari Subdistrict, Jember, East Java, Indonesia, 68121
Abstract
Currently, the TRIGA reactor has been reshuffling several fuel elements in order to maintain its criticality during operation. The reshuffling includes the filling of heterogeneous fuel elements with an enrichment of 8.5%wt- 12%wt- 20%wt for the isotope U-235. The heterogeneity in the preparation of fuel elements has the opportunity to produce a fairly high PPF (Power Peaking Factor) value. This is the main focus that needs to be discussed in this study. The purpose of the study is to conduct a more comprehensive neutronic analysis of fuel elements by calculating the criticality value (k-eff) and PPF which are then compared with the results of the reference calculation (MCNP). The results of the validation of OpenMC and MCNP k-eff values showed accurate values with an error percentage (%∆-k/k) of < 1%, namely 0.1159% (60% of control rod withdrawal) and 0.1988% (100% control rod withdrawal). The results of the PPF calculation for the axial direction (APF) show a similar trend pattern for each variation of power used. In the middle position, the active fuel element has the highest PPF value than other regions. This shows that the fission rate in the central area of the fuel element is very dominant. The power used in this calculation is varied in the range of 223-640 kW because it still meets the safety limits of the current TRIGA 2000 Bandung reactor operation.
