Runge–Kutta type-2 method for solving reactor point kinetics equations and its validation by analysing thermal and fast reactor benchmarks

Abstract

Runge – Kutta type-2 method is used for solving point kinetic equations. Time step size chosen ranging from 10−3-10−4 sec. RK-2 method is applied to estimate power transients of thermal reactor and fast breeder reactors with step, ramp and sinusoidal neutron reactivity perturbations. Results are compared with the standard problem results at different time steps with different numerical methods ie. Modified ETD and Cohen’s methods. This comparison of transient power values shows that RK-2 method is predicting accurately for fast and thermal reactors for longer duration of time.