Shape optimization of a Sodium Fast Reactor core

Abstract

Abstract. We apply in this paper a geometrical shape optimization method for the design of the core of a SFR (Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor) in order to minimize a thermal counter-reaction known as the sodium void effect. In this kind of reactors, by increasing the temperature, the core may become liable to a strong increase of reactivity, a key-parameter governing the chain-reaction at quasi-static states. We first use the one group energy diffusion model and give the generalization to the two groups energy equation. We then give some numerical results in the case of the one group energy equation. Note that the application of our method leads to some designs whose interfaces can be parametrized by very smooth curves which can stand very far from realistic designs. We don't explain here the method that it would be possible to use for recovering an operational design but there exists several penalization methods (see [2]) that could be employed to this end.Résumé. On applique dans cet article une méthode d'optimisation géométrique dans le cadre de la conception d'un coeur de réacteur SFR (Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor, i.e. réacteurà neutron rapide refroidi au sodium) dans le but de minimiser une contre réaction thermique connue sous le nom d'effet de vidange sodium. Lorsqu'une augmentation de température survient, ce type de réacteur peutêtre sujetà une forte augmentation de réactivité, un paramètre clé dans le contrôle de la réaction en chaîne en régime quasi-statique. On a recoursà l'équation de diffusionà un groupe puis on donne la généralisation du modèle d'optimisation pour l'équation de la diffusionà deux groupes d'énergie. On présente ensuite quelques résultats numériques obtenus dans le cas de l'équationà un groupe d'énergie. On note que l'application de cette méthode conduità des designs de coeur présentant des interfaces très régulières qui sont loin d'un design de coeur faisable sur le plan technologique. A cet effet, de nombreuses méthodes de pénalisation (comme celles rencontrées dans [2]) pourraientêtre employées.

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