Ph.D. topics
Advanced Monte Carlo simulation methods for deep penetration analysis
Alexander Rommelmann
Dr. Alexander Ponomarev (HZDR)
Reactor safety
since 09/2024
Motivation
Due to Germany's decision to phase out nuclear energy in 2011, all German nuclear light-water reactors are now being decommissioned or dismantled. The planning and implementation of decommissioning measures represents a major challenge due to the activation of structural materials of reactor components and surroundings. In practice, estimation of the accumulated activity is associated with using complex and expensive sample measurements. Thus, computational prediction of activation, leveraging the advantages of Monte Carlo-based codes along with cutting-edge variance reduction methodologies, constitutes a pertinent research inquiry aiming, in particular, on significant reduction in decommissioning costs and reducing radiation exposures for the involved staff.
Objectives
- Development of Monte Carlo based calculational schemes for analysis of neutron flux distribution inside the reactor components and surrounding structures.
- Evaluation of the performance of different variance reduction techniques essentially for deep penetration problem of activation of concrete structures surrounding the reactor and primary system.
- Application of the developed methodology and approaches using design and experimental data from Pre-Konvoi and Konvoi series pressurized water reactors.
- Validation of computational fluence predictions based on available experimental measurements of monitors and probes as well as estimation of associated uncertainties.
- Validation of activation predictions on data of concrete material samples from the power plant.
- Development of recommendations on models’ preparation, validation steps, experimental measurement strategies, i.e. for probes and monitors measurements.
