Proof-of-principle of parametric stellarator neutronics modeling using Serpent2

Tommi Lyytinen*, Antti Snicker, J. Virtanen, I. Palermo, J. Alguacil, Timo Bogaarts, F. Warmer

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This contribution presents neutron transport studies for the 5-period helical-axis advanced stellarator stellarator using the Serpent2 code. These studies utilize a parametric geometry model, enabling scans in neutronics modeling by varying the thickness of the reactor layers. For example, the tritium breeding ratio (TBR) can be determined by exploring various blanket material options and thicknesses to identify the threshold configuration that meets the TBR design criterion of 1.15. We found out that with the helium-cooled pebble ped candidate option, the TBR criterion is met with a breeding zone thickness of 26 cm, while with the dual-coolant lithium lead the threshold is exceeded at a thickness of 46 cm. Furthermore, the geometry includes non-planar field coils, allowing to study the fast neutron flux in these superconducting coils with a technological limit of 1 × 10 9 1 / cm 2 s . It is shown that the neutron fast flux is not constant at the coils, necessitating a neutron transport simulation to determine the distribution of the fast-flux at the coils. We show that the peak fast flux can be more than a factor of 2 higher than the average flux, and that the peak flux location rotates helically.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number076042
    Number of pages12
    JournalNuclear Fusion
    Volume64
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Funding

    This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium, funded by the European Union via the Euratom Research and Training Programme (Grant Agreement No 101052200 \u2014 EUROfusion). Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. This work was partially funded by the Academy of Finland Project Nos. 328874, No. 353370 and No. 324759.

    Keywords

    • HELIAS
    • neutronics
    • parametric modeling
    • stellarator

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