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J. Frybort, L. Heraltova
Department of Nuclear Reactors
Chapter 5
Diffusion Theory
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Content
1
Ficks Law
Continuity Equation
Diffusion Equation
Validity and Boundary Conditions
Diffusion Theory
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Ficks Law
Introduction
It is necessary to predict neutron distribution inside a nuclear
reactor
The exact description of all the processes of neutrons (collisions,
transport, nuclear reactions) is very difficult
The first approximation describes the movement of neutrons as a
kind of diffusion
This approximation is called diffusion approximation and was used
in development of the first types of nuclear reactors
More advanced methods are developed now, but still, diffusion
theory is widely used for the analysis of large nuclear reactors
The complete theory describing all neutron properties with little
approximation is Transport theory solving Boltzmann transport
equation
J. Frybort, L. Heraltova (CTU in Prague)
Diffusion Theory
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Ficks Law
Ficks Law
The diffusion theory is based on Ficks law originally used for
chemical diffusion
It was observed in chemistry that if concentration of a solute in
one region of solution is greater than in another, the solute
diffuses from the region of higher concentration to the region of
lower concentration
The rate of solute flow is proportional to the negative of the
gradient of the solute concentration
Neutrons behave to a good approximation in the same way
If the density (neutron flux) of neutrons is higher in one part of a
reactor, there is a net flow of neutrons into a region with lower
neutron flux
Diffusion Theory
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Ficks Law
d
dx
(5-1)
(5-2)
Diffusion Theory
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Ficks Law
Diffusion Coefficient
We assume that D is not a function of spatial variables
The diffusion coefficient can be approximately calculated as:
D
tr
, where tr is transport mean free path
3
(5-3)
1
1
tr
s p1
q
(5-4)
tr
s c
os is average value of the cosine of the angle at which
neutrons are scattered in the medium. It can be calculated for
most of the neutron energies as:
2
3A
Diffusion Theory
(5-5)
November 28, 2014
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Ficks Law
Within about three mean free paths from either neutron source or
the outer surface of the diffusive medium
Diffusion Theory
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Continuity Equation
rate of change
in number of
neutrons in V
ff
rate of
production
of neutrons
in V
fi
ffi
fl
Diffusion Theory
rate of
absorption
of neutrons
in V
fi
ffi
fl
rate of
leakage
of neutrons
from V
fi
ffi
fl
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Continuity Equation
n dV
V
d
n dV , which can be also written as:
dt V
Bn
dV
Bt
Diffusion Theory
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Continuity Equation
Production rate
s dV
V
The rate at which neutrons are lost by absorption per cm3 /sec is
equal to a
The total loss of neutrons through absorption in volume V is:
Absorption rate
a dV
V
Diffusion Theory
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Continuity Equation
Leakage rate Jn dA
A
Jn dA
divJ dV
A
Diffusion Theory
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Continuity Equation
Bn
dV
Bt
s dV
a dV
divJ dV
V
Integral were carried out over the same volume, thus their
integrands must also be equal:
Bn
s a divJ
Bt
(5-6)
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Equation
Diffusion Equation
The continuity equation has two unknowns the neutron density
(n) and neutron current density (J)
There is a relation between neutron flux and neutron current
density
One of these unknowns can be eliminated by Ficks law
Substitution of (5-2) into (5-6) leads to:
divpD gradq a ` s
Bn
Bt
Diffusion Theory
Bn
Bt
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Diffusion Equation
1 B
v Bt
(5-7)
Diffusion Theory
(5-8)
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Diffusion Equation
Laplacian Operator
Formula for Laplacian depends on used coordinate system
in rectangular coordinates:
2
B2
B2
B2
` 2` 2
2
Bx
By
Bz
in cylindrical coordinates:
2
1 B
r Br
B
Br
1 B2
B2
` 2
2
2
r B
Bz
in spherical coordinates:
1 B
B
1
B
B
1
B2
2 2
r2
` 2
sin
`
2
r Br
Br
r sin B
B
r 2 sin B2
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Equation
1D Laplacian Operators
In the simplest examples in one-dimensional space, the Laplacian
operator reduces to the following formulas:
rectangular coordinates:
2
B2
Bx 2
cylindrical coordinates:
1 B
r Br
B
r
Br
1 B
B2
`
Br 2
r Br
spherical coordinates:
1 B
2
r Br
2
B
r
Br
2
Diffusion Theory
B2
2 B
`
Br 2
r Br
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Diffusion Equation
Diffusion Length
The equation (5-8) is often divided by D, resulting in:
2
1
s
` 0
2
D
L
(5-9)
D
a
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Equation
Boundary Conditions
The diffusion equation was derived using Ficks law, therefore
conditions for validity of Ficks law are also valid for the diffusion
equation
Since the diffusion equation is a partial differential equation,
boundary conditions are required
There are typical boundary conditions:
1
3
4
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Equation
Extrapolation Distance
Ficks law is not valid for area close to an external surface
between the diffusive medium and atmosphere
It was found that if the flux vanishes in a distance d from the
surface, then the flux calculated by diffusion theory is close to the
real flux
The parameter d is known as extrapolation distance and in most
cases it is given by simple formula d 0.71 tr , where tr is
transport mean free path of the medium
From relation for diffusion coefficient D tr {3 results that
d 2.13 D
The extrapolation distance is usually in units of several cm and
therefore it can be in many cases neglected and assumed that
neutron flux diminishes at the physical boundary of the medium
J. Frybort, L. Heraltova (CTU in Prague)
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Equation
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Equation
Source Condition
The diffusion equation is not valid for the neutron source location,
but it is necessary to match the magnitude of the neutron flux to
the source intensity
The source is surrounded by area for which it holds that all
neutrons flowing through this area must come from the neutron
source characterized by source emissivity S
Formulation depends on the source geometry: planar (5-10a),
point (5-10b), or line (5-10c)
S
(5-10a)
lim Jpxq
x0
2
lim 4r 2 Jpr q S
(5-10b)
r 0
lim 2rJpr q S
r 0
(5-10c)
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Theory
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d2
2 ex
dx 2
Diffusion Theory
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d
DA x{L
e
dx
L
Diffusion Theory
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x0
x0
S
DA x{L DA
e
L
L
2
pxq
SL x{L
e
2D
(5-11)
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Theory
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d
1
1
J D
DA
`
er {L
dr
rL r 2
pr q A
Diffusion Theory
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` 1 er {L S
lim 4r 2 Jpr q lim 4DA
r 0
r 0
L
This gives constant A:
S
4D
Resulting equation for neutron flux distribution is following:
A
pr q
Ser {L
4Dr
Diffusion Theory
(5-12)
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d2 puq
dpuq
`u
u 2 puq 0
2
du
du
Diffusion Theory
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d2
d
`x
` p2 x 2 n2 q 0 , where and n are constants
dx
dx 2
Diffusion Theory
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d2
d
p2 x 2 ` n2 q 0
`x
2
dx
dx
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Theory
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d
dK0 pr {Lq
DCK1 pr {Lq
DC
dr
dr
L
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Theory
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1
x
function
r 0
S
2D
Final form of a neutron flux distribution from the line source is:
pr q
J. Frybort, L. Heraltova (CTU in Prague)
S
K0 pr {Lq
2D
Diffusion Theory
(5-13)
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Diffusion Length
Sa r {L
S
re
dr 2 rer {L dr
D
L
1 r {L
re
dr
L2
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Length
8
1 8 3 r {L
2
s
2
r e
dr 6L2
r
r ppr q dr 2
L
0
0
It means that L2 is one-sixth of the average of the square of the
straight distance a neutron travels from the point at which it is
emitted to the point where it is finally absorbed
With higher diffusion
length, neutrons are
moving further. It means
the diffusive medium is
less absorbing
J. Frybort, L. Heraltova (CTU in Prague)
Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Theory
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Diffusion Theory
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The constant A is found from the source condition in the usual way
and is:
1
SL
1 ` e2pa`dq{L
A
2D
For positive x-direction, function for is given by:
pxq
SL ex{L ex{L2pa`dq{L
2D
1 ` e2pa`dq{L
Diffusion Theory
(5-14)
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Diffusion Theory
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g pEq dE
g
gh g `
hg`1
J. Frybort, L. Heraltova (CTU in Prague)
Diffusion Theory
g1
hg h sg
h1
November 28, 2014
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T
pEq dE
T
Diffusion Theory
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2
2n
2n 2kT 1{2
E{kT
T
Ee
dE ?
(5-16)
m
pkT q3{2 m
0
Energy and velocity corresponding to energy kT is denoted as ET
and vT
If temperature is given in Kelvins, it can be calculated as:
ET 8.617T 105 eV
vT 1.284T 1{2 104 cm/sec
Equation (5-16) can be now written as:
2
T ? nvT
Diffusion Theory
(5-17)
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Diffusion Theory
(5-18)
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1
s
a
a pEqpEq dE
T T
This integral is total absorption rate equal to ga pT qa pE0 q0 ,
where ga pT q is non-1/v factor and a pE0 q is absorption
cross-section for thermal energy 0.0253 eV and 0 thermal flux
s a becomes:
s a ga pT qa pE0 q0 {T
1{2
?
T0
ga pT qa pE0 q
2
T
(5-19)
Diffusion Theory
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1
s
T sT
2
LT
D
Diffusion Theory
(5-20)
s
D
sa
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Diffusion Theory
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gh g `
hg`1
g1
hg h sg
h1
Diffusion Theory
(5-21)
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s
1
T T
2
LT
D
1
1 1
T
L2T
D
(5-22)
Diffusion Theory
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Neutron Age
We define parameter T neutron age:
T
D1
1
(5-23)
1
1 0
T
Diffusion Theory
(5-24)
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Ser { T
1
,r 0
4D1 r
(5-25)
Diffusion Theory
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1 2
r
6
(5-26)
Neutron age gives 1/6 of square of the average distance neutron travels,
from the place where it was released to the place where it was sloweddown to the thermal energy
Diffusion Theory
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Introducing the solution for fast neutron flux (5-25) into the
diffusion equation for thermal neutrons (5-22) a new equation with
nonzero right side is obtained
The solution is:
T
S L2T
4DpL2T T q
er {LT er {
?
T
(5-27)
Diffusion Theory
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Moderator
H2 O
D2 O
Be
Graphite
D1 (cm)
1 (cm1 )
T (cm2 )
0.92
1.26
0.55
1.04
0.0489
0.0116
0.0090
0.0037
19
109
61
278
Diffusion Theory
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Moderator
H2 O
D2 O
Be
Graphite
density (g/cm3 )
D (cm)
LTM (cm)
1.00
1.10
1.85
1.60
0.13
0.76
0.45
0.87
2.62
147
22
61
Diffusion Theory
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