CONTENTS

Preface Xl

One: BASIC TOPICS AND NOMENCLATURE

1-1 Basic Time-Dependent Phenomena in Nuclear Reactors I

1-2 Kinetics Versus Dynamics 2
Review Questions 3
References 3

Two: DELAYED NEUTRONS

2-1 Production of Prompt and Delayed Neutrons Through Nuclear

Fission 5
2-2 Total Delayed Neutron Yields 8
2-3 Yields of Delayed Neutron Groups 10
2-4 Emission Spectra of Delayed Neutrons 16
Homework Problems 17
Review Questions 19
References 19

Three: PRELIMINARY FORMULATION OF THE POINT

KINETICS EQUATIONS

3-1 Intuitive Point Kinetics-The Basic Concepts 21

3-1A The Prompt Neutron Balance Equation 21
3-1B Average Neutron Generation Time and Lifetime 23
3-1 C The Effect of Delayed Neutrons-The Intuitive Point
Kinetics Equations 26
3-2 One-Group Point Kinetics 28
3-2A The Diffusion Approximation as the Basis of Reactor
Kinetics 28
3-2B Derivation of the One-Group Point Kinetics Equations 31
Homework Problems 35
Review Questions 36
References 37

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Four: STATIC PERTURBATION THEORY

4-l The Basic Reactor Eigenvalue Problem and the Perturbation

Theory Approach 38
4-1 A Motivations for a Perturbation Theory 38
4-IB Neutron Multiplication as an Eigenvalue Problem 39
4-1 C The Basic Approach for the Calculation of an Eigenvalue
Perturbation 41
4-2 First-Order Perturbation Theory 44
4-3 Exact Perturbation Theory 47
4-4 Applications of First-Order Perturbation Theory 49
Homework Problems 53
Review Questions 54
Reference 54

Five: THE POINT KINETICS EQUATIONS

5-1 The Exact Point Kinetics Equations 55

5-IA Flux Factorization and Weighting Functions 55
5-l B Derivation of the Exact Point Kinetics Equations for an
Initially Critical Reactor 58
5-l C Derivation of the Exact Point Kinetics Equations for an
Initially Subcritical Reactor 62
5-1 D Reactivity in the Exact Point Kinetics Equations 66
5-1 E Effective Delayed Neutron Fractions and Further
Discussion of the Exact Point Kinetics Equations 71
5-2 The Point Reactor Model 75
Homework Problems 78
Review Questions 81
References 81

Six: SOLUTION OF BASIC KINETICS PROBLEMS

6-1 Kinetics for Small and Large Time Values 84

6-1A The Stationary Solution: Source Multiplication Formulas 84
6-1 B Kinetics for Small Time Values 87
6-1 C Asymptotic Transients and Inhour Formulas 97
6-1D Summary of Delayed Neutron Source Approximations 107
6-2 Transients with Constant Reactivity Ill
6-2A The Prompt Jump in a Subcritical Reactor Ill
6-2B The Prompt Jump in a Critical Reactor 118
6-2C Kinetics with One Group of Delayed Neutrons 121
6-2D Kinetics with Six Groups of Delayed Neutrons 126
Homework Problems 134
Review Questions 137

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Seven: MICROKINETICS

7~ 1 Decomposition of Continuous Rates in Fission Chains 140

7-2 Characteristics of Individual Fission Chains 145
7 -2A The Lifetime of Average Chains 145
7 -2B The Neutron Density in an Average Chain 146
7-2C The Number of Neutrons in an Average Chain 146
7-3 The Fission Chains in Steady-State Reactors 147
7-3A Comparison with Static Chain Multiplication 147
7-3B Precursors and Criticality 148
7-3C Comparison of Static and Prompt Neutron Chains 148
7-4 Fission Chains in Reactor Transients 149
7-4A Reactivity-Step-Induced Transients 149
7-4B Prompt Jump and Delayed Adjustments 149
7 -4C Source-Step~ Induced Transients 151
7-5 Fission Chains and Source Multiplication Formulas 151
7-6 Interpretation of the Adjoint Flux 153
Homework Problems 155
Review Questions 157
References 157

Eight: APPROXIMATE POINT KINETICS

8-1 The Prompt Jump Approximation 158

8-1 A Formulation and Implementation of the Prompt Jump
Approximation 158
8~ I B Application of the Prompt Jump Approximation 166
8-2 The Prompt Kinetics Approximation 171
8~2A Superprompt-Critical Transients Following a Step
Reactivity Insertion 172
8-2B The Pseudo-Initial Flux for Transients Following a Ramp
Reactivity Insertion 175
Homework Problems 180
Review Questions 181

Nine: MEASUREMENT OF REACTIVITIES

9-1 Survey and Conceptual Problems 183

9-1 A Survey 183
9-1 B Dynamic Versus Static Reactivities 186
9-1 C The Exact Measurability of Reactivities 188
9-2 Static Measurements of Reactivities 190
9-2A Source Multiplication Method for a Single Reactor State 191
9-2B Source Multiplication Method Involving Two Reactor
States 194
9-2C Null Reactivity Method 199

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9-3 Basic Dynamic Reactivity Measurements 200
9-3A Survey 200
9-3B Asymptotic Period Method 201
9-3C Rod-Drop Method for a Critical Reactor 202
9-3D Subcriticality Measurements by the Rod-Drop Experiment 202
9-3E Source- and Rod-Jerk Methods 204
9-3F The Pile Oscillator Method 205
9-3G Pulsed Source Method 207
9-3H Theoretically Consistent Flux Shape Corrections 208
9-4 Inverse Kinetics 212
9-4A Inverse Point Kinetics 212
9-4B Inverse Kinetics for Reactivity Coefficients 214
9-4C Inverse Spatial Kinetics 217
Homework Problems 223
Review Questions 224
References 225

Ten: DYNAMICS WITH PROMPT REACTIVITY FEEDBACK

10-1 The Prompt Feedback Reactivity 228

10-IA The Fuel Temperature Rise 228
10-IB Prompt Feedback 237
10-2 Transients in the Subprompt-Critical or Subcritical Reactivity
Domain 240
I0-2A The Transient at Small Times 241
10-2B The Asymptotic Transients 246
10-3 Superprompt-Critical Excursion Following a Step Reactivity
Insertion 250
10-3A Investigation of the Differential Equation 250
10-3B Investigation of the First Integral 254
10-3C The Flux Transient During a Superprompt-Critical
Excursion 256
I0-3D The Post-Burst Flux Transient 260
10-4 Superprompt-Critical Transients Induced by Reactivity Ramps 263
10-4A Investigation of the Differential Equation 263
10-4B Investigation of the First Integral 267
I 0-4C Discussion of the Flux Transient 271
Homework Problems 277
Review Questions 278
References 280

Eleven: SPACE-ENERGY DEPENDENT DYNAMICS

11-1 Introduction 282

11-2 General Discussion of the Dynamics Problem 284

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11-3 Survey of Space-Energy Dependent Dynamics Approaches 288
ll-3A Finite Difference Methods 288
ll-3B The Point Reactor Model 290
ll-3C The Modal Approach 291
II-3D The Nodal Approach 292
ll-3E Flux Factorization Approaches 294
11-4 Quasistatic and Related Methods 299
ll-4A Physical Interpretation of the Quasistatic and Adiabatic
Assumptions 299
11-4B Factorization and Quasistatic Methods 304
11-4C Comparison of Kinetics and Dynamics Results 309
11-5 Dynamic Reactivity Coefficients 316
Review Questions 321
References 322

Appendix A: Reactivity Effects of Fission Products 326

Appendix B: Operators in Reactor Applications 336
Appendix C: Mathematical Formulas 349
Appendix D: The 8 Function 352

Index 355

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