Application of bias factor method with use of exponentiated experimental value to prediction uncertainty reduction in coolant void reactivity of breeding light water reactor

Kugo, Teruhiko ; Kojima, Kensuke; Ando, Masaki  ; Mori, Takamasa; Takeda, Toshikazu*

We have applied the bias factor method to coolant void reactivity of a breeding light water reactor with use of FCA-XXII-1 experiment with introducing a concept of exponentiated experimental value into the bias factor method in order to overcome a problem caused by the conventional bias factor method in which the prediction uncertainty increases in the case that the experimental core has the opposite reactivity worth and the consequent opposite sensitivity coefficients to the real core. In the present study, we have formulated the prediction uncertainty reduction by the use of the bias factor method extended by the concept of the exponentiated experimental value. From the numerical results, it is verified that the concept of exponentiated experimental value can improve the prediction accuracy compared with the original uncertainty in the design calculation value while the conventional bias factor method cannot improve the prediction accuracy. It is concluded that the introduction of exponentiated experimental value can effectively utilize experimental data and extend applicability of the bias factor method.