Validation study on SFR core bowing codes using Joyo ex-core experiment data; Single duct bowing benchmark

Ohgama, Kazuya   ; Doda, Norihiro  ; Uwaba, Tomoyuki ; Futagami, Satoshi  ; Tanaka, Masaaki  ; Yamano, Hidemasa   ; Ota, Hirokazu*; Ogata, Takanari*; Wozniak, N.*; Shemon, E.*; Feng, B.*

To enhance the accuracy of the safety evaluations in sodium-cooled fast reactors, it is necessary to develop a method to realistically evaluate the reactivity caused by core deformation. In this regard, Japan and the United States jointly conducted a benchmark analysis of thermal bowing experiments of a single duct of Joyo-type fuel assembly. The aim was to confirm the validity of the core bowing analysis codes. Comparisons of analysis and test results revealed that the core bowing analysis codes used by both countries were able to reasonably predict the axial distribution of horizontal duct displacement of a single duct due to thermal bowing and the contact load on the duct pad.