BWR stability analyses with SIMULATE-3K benchmark against measured plant data

The best-estimate coupled neutronic/thermal-hydraulics code, SIMULATE-3K (S3K), is used by many utilities, research institutes, and regulatory authorities in Europe for performing BWR stability analysis. Analysis of many measured BWR stability tests (often performed in European BWRs) provides the basis for the validation for stability parameter calculations (decay ratio and natural frequency) with S3K. This paper summarizes part of the extensive validation database for the code, and discusses the influence of fuel pin model parameters on the stability results.