Use of FFTBM by signal mirroring for sensitivity study

• The fast Fourier transform based tool was applied for a sensitivity analysis.
• The calculations of the BEMUSE programme LOFT L2-5 test were used in the study.
• The most influential input parameters were identified and their influence quantified.
• It was shown that FFTBM-SM is best suited for conducting quick sensitivity analyses.

The state of the art best estimate safety analyses for nuclear reactors use best estimate thermal–hydraulic computer codes with an evaluation of the uncertainties to compare the results of calculations with acceptance criteria. The uncertainty quantification is typically accompanied by a sensitivity analysis, in which the influence of the individual contributors to the uncertainty is determined. The objective of the performed study is to demonstrate that the fast Fourier transform based method by signal mirroring (FFTBM-SM) can be very efficiently used for the sensitivity analysis when one parameter is varied at a time. The sensitivity study was conducted for the LOFT L2-5 test, which simulates the large break loss of coolant accident. The LOFT L2-5 test was analysed in the frame of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Best Estimate Methods – Uncertainty and Sensitivity Evaluation (BEMUSE) programme, where each of the 14 participants performed a reference calculation and up to 15 sensitivity runs of the test. The results show that with the FFTBM-SM the analyst can get the time dependent picture of the input parameter influence on the results. The results suggest that FFTBM-SM is especially appropriate for a sensitivity analysis in which several calculations need to be compared.