Estimation of fuel concentration distribution and subcriticality by using “Pattern matching” method

Abstract

Development of critically safety monitoring is an important issue in nuclear fuel reprocessing plants. In this paper two subcriticality estimation methods are compared. One method is based on conventional artificial neural network method. But its performance was no good in the sense that the accuracy of estimated subcriticality was the same order as the results estimated by the conventional Modified Neutron Source Multiplication method. The other method considered is referred to as the “Pattern matching” method. It can be used as the critical safety monitor for non-uniform fuel solution systems in reprocessing plants. Numerical experiments were carried out to examine the method above mentioned; the estimated subcriticalities agreed well with the true values. The “Pattern matching” method can also be applied to the fuel concentration estimation problem. The estimated fuel distribution agreed reasonably with the true fuel distribution in all cases. It is concluded that the “Pattern matching” method is available critical safety monitor for non-uniform fuel systems in reprocessing plants.