Neutronics analysis of a source-driven subcritical system using G4-STORK

Abstract

As a promising design of the next-generation reactors, source-driven subcritical systems (SC) are compelling for their safety and transmutation features. However, singular properties of SCs bring insuperable difficulties to their neutronics analysis with conventional numerical methods. Instead of applying oversimplified approximations, the limitations of deterministic approaches and quasi-static Monte Carlo approaches can be surmounted using G4-STORK (Geant4 STOchastic Reactor Kinetics), a time-dependent Monte Carlo particle tracking code for reactor physics applications. In this work, exploiting the exclusive features of G4-STORK, we demonstrate a novel analysis methodology by presenting a specialized neutronics analysis of an SC. A detailed inspection of neutron distributions, integral parameters, and source-induced kinetics are provided to reveal the singular behaviors neglected by oversimplifications.