Kinetics Parameters Estimation for the Coupled Neutron-Photon Point Kinetics Model in Monte Carlo Eigenvalue Calculations

The delayed photoneutron effect should be considered in the point kinetics equation (PKE) applied to D2O and beryllium-moderated or -reflected systems because of its importance on reactor kinetics. This paper proposes neutron-photon-coupled PKE with a clear definition of adjoint-weighted kinetics parameters after providing the mathematical derivation from the neutron and photon transport and precursor equations. The Monte Carlo algorithms to estimate the kinetics parameters are induced from their definition and implemented in the eigenvalue calculation module of McCARD. They are verified through homogeneous infinite-medium problems with few-group neutron and photon cross sections by comparing with analytic solutions.The proposed PKE and kinetics parameters estimation methods are applied for the kinetics analyses of the artificial control rod drop transient problem in the RB reactor. Phot…