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.