AP1000~® PWR CYCLE 1 HFP DEPLETION SIMULATIONS WITH VERA-CS

摘要

This paper describes the application of the Core Simulator of the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications, VERA, under development by the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of LWRs (CASL) to the core physics analysis of the AP1000 PWR. The AP1000 PWR features an advanced first core with radial and axial heterogeneities and at-power control rods insertion to perform the MSHIM™ advanced operational strategy. Lattice depletion simulations have been performed with VERA, PARAGON2, Westinghouse's state-of-the-art lattice code with ultra-fine (6064 energy groups) energy resolution, and SERPENT continuous energy Monte Carlo, which showed excellent agreement among all codes. Core depletion simulations have been performed with VERA and the Westinghouse core physics code system ANC/PARAGON2, demonstrating excellent agreement in the key core operational parameters, and confirming the Westinghouse design values for the AP1000 PWR first core.