High-Fidelity Transient Analysis with STREAM Based on the Predictor-Corrector Quasi-Static Method

Abstract

The predictor-corrector quasi-static method (PCQM) is used to solve the transient problem in the STREAM code, a steady-state and transient reactor analysis code with the method of characteristics. In PCQM, the angular neutron flux undergoes a factorized split to form the product of shape and amplitude functions. The time-dependent neutron transport equation is solved to obtain the shape function whereas the amplitude function is obtained by resolving the exact point kinetics equations (EPKEs). A two-level coarse mesh finite difference technique is implemented to reduce the transient running time of the transport solution. Moreover, high-order polynomial interpolation is applied to the kinetics parameters utilized in EPKEs to reduce the error when the reactivity insertion is nonlinear. Several numerical benchmarks are solved to justify the application of the procedure, proving that the method maintains solution accuracy.