Transient calculation on TRIGA 2000 of plate-type fuel element using RELAP5, EUREKA2/RR, and MTR-DYN codes

The TRIGA 2000 reactor Bandung is proposed to convert from rod-type fuel to plate-type fuel because there are no manufacturers in the world that still produce rod-type fuel. Calculating the safety parameters and their reliability related to reactor operation has become an important thing to do. The objective of this study was to perform the reactor transient calculation of TRIGA 2000 that uses plate-type fuel. The reactor core modification is based on the capability of the existing primary coolant system, without changing its flow rates. Thermal-hydraulics calculations related to reactivity insertion accident and loss of flow accident were analyzed using EUREKA2/RR, MTR-DYN, and RELAP5 codes. The chosen loss of flow accident scenario is a decrease in flow caused by a sudden stop of the pump power supply, while reactivity insertion accident is conducted by the withdrawal of control rods with maximum reactivity insertion of 32.33 · 10–5 s–1. The calculated parameters are reactivity, reactor power, and temperature of the coolant, cladding, and fuel in the hottest channel position. In general, from a safety point of view, those computer codes were capable of performing the transient calculations with appropriate results. Based on the calculation results, during the transient condition of both reactivity insertion accident and loss of flow accident scenario, the reactor operation safety parameters do not exceed the allowable safety limit.