2D full-core Monte Carlo pin-by-pin burnup calculations with the RMC code

• A 2D PWR core pin-by-pin depletion is carried out with the RMC code.
• Memory requirements are effectively reduced by using data decompositions.
• Results demonstrate the feasibility of MC burnup analysis for large cores.
• RMC is proved to be suitable for large-scale MC burnup calculations.

Monte Carlo (MC) burnup analyses have been performed for decades; however, it was seldom applied to large-scale burnup problems due to computational time limitations and memory requirements. As supplement to our previous work on improving computational efficiency for large-scale MC burnup calculations, this work introduces methods of reducing memory requirements, and presents a practical 2D full-core PWR pin-by-pin burnup calculation with the RMC code. As is evidenced by the results, it is now feasible to perform 2D full-core MC burnup calculations with reasonable computational time and memory requirements. These results provide a performance benchmark of full-core MC burnup calculation, and demonstrate the feasibility of large core depletion from a memory perspective and pave the way for full core 3D analysis.