Regional instability evaluation of Ringhals unit 1 based on extended frequency domain model Original Research Article

The frequency domain model has been extended for the regional instability evaluation while retaining its practicality and improving the reliability of major influential numerical models. The unified friction and local pressure loss model of the original LAPUR was modified considering the different dynamic characteristic of two pressure loss mechanisms. The detailed ex-core recirculation loop model was implemented and the neutron point kinetics model was also modified to reflect the inter-mode void reactivity interaction. The neutron flux modal analysis code, ACCORD-N, was developed based on the nonlinear iterative nodal method. Efficient schemes were proposed to give the higher mode initial flux guess. The modified code system was verified based on the Ringhals unit 1 stability test data. Extensive studies were performed to identify influential factors in the regional instability. A dependence of the decay ratio was investigated with regard to the sub-criticality of the first azimuthal mode, Nyquist plots and several power shape indices. It seemed reasonable to conclude that the regional instability was strongly influenced by the thermal hydraulic mechanism. Including the simulation results of other reactors, the distance weighted axial power momentum, named the AS-value, gave a good account of both core-wide and regional instability modes.