Xenon oscillation in SCWRs

Xenon oscillation in Supercritical Water Cooled Reactors is analyzed in this paper. Due to the global nature of this phenomenon full-detail models are not necessary. A program system has been developed with a neutronics module – using SCALE with a cross section homogenization process – coupled to a thermal hydraulics module completed with the xenon poisoning differential equations. The two most important feedbacks – coolant temperature and Doppler – are examined separately to acquire a full picture of the nature of the oscillations. It is found that the one-pass PWR-SC and the three-pass HPLWR are stable against xenon oscillations.

► Xenon oscillation in Supercritical Water Cooled Reactors.
► One-pass and three-pass SCWR concepts examined.
► Coupled neutronics–thermal hydraulics program with xenon poisoning equations.
► Coolant temperature feedback does not dampen the xenon oscillations.
► Doppler feedback suppresses the xenon oscillations.