• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.389-394
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• 2016

Background: Tetrahedral-mesh geometries can be used in the MCNP code, but the MCNP code accepts only the geometry in the Abaqus input file format; hence, the existing tetrahedral-mesh models first need to be converted to the Abacus input file format to be used in the MCNP code. In the present study, we developed a simple but useful computer program, TET2MCNP, for converting TetGen-generated tetrahedral-mesh models to the Abacus input file format. Materials and Methods: TET2MCNP is written in C++ and contains two components: one for converting a TetGen output file to the Abacus input file and the other for the reverse conversion process. The TET2MCP program also produces an MCNP input file. Further, the program provides some MCNP-specific functions: the maximum number of elements (i.e., tetrahedrons) per part can be limited, and the material density of each element can be transferred to the MCNP input file. Results and Discussion: To test the developed program, two tetrahedral-mesh models were generated using TetGen and converted to the Abaqus input file format using TET2MCNP. Subsequently, the converted files were used in the MCNP code to calculate the object- and organ-averaged absorbed dose in the sphere and phantom, respectively. The results show that the converted models provide, within statistical uncertainties, identical dose values to those obtained using the PHITS code, which uses the original tetrahedral-mesh models produced by the TetGen program. The results show that the developed program can successfully convert TetGen tetrahedral-mesh models to Abacus input files. Conclusion: In the present study, we have developed a computer program, TET2MCNP, which can be used to convert TetGen-generated tetrahedral-mesh models to the Abaqus input file format for use in the MCNP code. We believe this program will be used by many MCNP users for implementing complex tetrahedral-mesh models, including computational human phantoms, in the MCNP code.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1997.05a
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• pp.65-70
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• 1997

Computational benchmark calculations have been performed for CANDU DUPIC fuel lattice and core using a Monte Carlo code MCNP-4B with ENDF/B-V library. The eigenvalues of the DUPIC fuel lattice have been predicted by an integral transport code WIMS-AECL using ENDF/B-V library for different burnup steps and lattice conditions. The comparison has shown that the eigenvalues match those of MCNP-4B within 0.20% $\Delta$k difference between WIMS-AECL and MCNP-4B results. The calculation of a 2-dimensional CANDU core loaded with DUPIC fuel has shown that the eigenvalue predicted by a diffusion code RFSP using lattice parameters generated by WIMS-AECL matches that of MCNP-4B within 0.12%Δk and the largest bundle power prediction error is around 7.2%.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2013

Objective of this study is to calculate gamma buildup factors for pointed and isotropic gamma sources in depleted uranium, uranium dioxide, natural uranium, tin, water and concrete using MCNP4C code. The thickness of the media ranges from 0.5 to 10 mean-free-path (mfp) and gamma energy ranges from 0.5 to 10 MeV. Owing to the outstanding accuracy of MCNP in calculation involving gamma interaction, results fairly match those reported previously. The maximum relative error is 2%.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 1994

The MCNP 4.2 code was used to calculate the thermal neutron flux distributions for $(n,\;{\gamma})$reaction in mainshell, annular plate, and subshell of the calandria of a CANDU 6 plant during operation. The thermal neutron flux distributions in calandria mainshell, annular plate, and subshell were in the range of $10^{11}{\sim}10^{13}\;neutrons/cm^2-sec$ which is somewhat higher than the previous estimates calculated by DOT 4.2 code. As an application to shielding analysis, photon dose rates outside the side and bottom shields were calculated. The resulting dose rates at the reactor accessible areas were below design target, $6 {\mu}Sv/h$. The methodology used in this study to evaluate the thermal neutron flux distribution for $(n,\;{\gamma})reaction$ can be applied to radiation shielding analysis of CANDU 6 type plants.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.191-195
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• 2016

Background: The current status of ACE format MCNP/MCNPX libraries by NDC of KAERI is presented with a short description of each library. Materials and Methods: Validation calculations with recent nuclear data evaluations ENDF/BV-II. 0, ENDF/B-VII.1, JEFF-3.2, and JENDL-4.0 have been carried out by the MCNP5 code for 119 criticality benchmark problems taken from the expanded criticality validation suite supplied by LANL. The overall performances of the ACE format KN-libraries have been analyzed in comparison with the results calculated with the ENDF/B-VII.0-based ENDF70 library of LANL. Results and Discussion: It was confirmed that the ENDF/B-VII.1-based KNE71 library showed better performances than the others by comparing the RMS errors and ${chi}^2$ values for five benchmark categories as well as whole benchmark problems. ENDF/B-VII.1 and JEFF-3.2 have a tendency to yield more reliable MCNP calculation results within certain confidence intervals regarding the total uncertainties for the $k_{eff}$ values. Conclusion: It is found that the adoption of the latest evaluated nuclear data might ensure better outcomes in various research and development areas.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.69.1-69
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• 2001

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.415-427
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• 2021

Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences has provided various beam irradiation services to researchers using a 50 MeV cyclotron beam line. In particular, since the neutron beam service uses the nuclear reaction between protons and beryllium, the possibility of activation of the irradiated sample increases by using a high current. In this study, MCNP 6.2 and FISPACT-II 4.0 were used to evaluate the possible activation during the 35 MeV 20 ㎂ neutron beam service, which is preferred by the researchers. As a result of the calculation, if the iron, copper, and tungsten samples were irradiated for more than 1 hour, long-lived radioisotopes were produced and their radioactivity exceeded the standard level for self-disposal. Under the conditions of 2 hours of daily irradiation, no activation occurred in the building materials, and the internal exposure of workers due to air activation inside the irradiation room was very insignificant. And when this air was discharged to environment, the radioactivity including this air was also satisfied the emission standard.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 1989

An analysis for the gamma radiation fields in the research reactor MAPLE-X10 facility has been peformed under the assumption of partial loss of reactor and service pool water to assess the safety from the view point of design. Four photon source terms considered in the analysis were calculated using the ORIGEN-S code. Gamma dose rate calculations over the reactor and service pools during the water-loss accident conditions were performed using QAD-CG code. MCNP code (Monte Carlo Neuron and Photon Transport code), also, was used to assess the scattered radiation fields away from the pools, which is appropriate for calculating the scattered photon dose rates outside of the solid angle subtended by the source and pool walls.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.4447-4464
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• 2023

This paper focuses on the development of a new computational model of the CNESTEN's TRIGA Mark II research reactor using the 3D continuous energy Monte-Carlo code TRIPOLI-4 (T4). This new model was developed to assess neutronic simulations and determine quantities of interest such as kinetic parameters of the reactor, control rods worth, power peaking factors and neutron flux distributions. This model is also a key tool used to accurately design new experiments in the TRIGA reactor, to analyze these experiments and to carry out sensitivity and uncertainty studies. The geometry and materials data, as part of the MCNP reference model, were used to build the T4 model. In this regard, the differences between the two models are mainly due to mathematical approaches of both codes. Indeed, the study presented in this article is divided into two parts: the first part deals with the development and the validation of the T4 model. The results obtained with the T4 model were compared to the existing MCNP reference model and to the experimental results from the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR). Different core configurations were investigated via simulations to test the computational model reliability in predicting the physical parameters of the reactor. As a fairly good agreement among the results was deduced, it seems reasonable to assume that the T4 model can accurately reproduce the MCNP calculated values. The second part of this study is devoted to the sensitivity and uncertainty (S/U) studies that were carried out to quantify the nuclear data uncertainty in the multiplication factor k_eff. For that purpose, the T4 model was used to calculate the sensitivity profiles of the k_eff to the nuclear data. The integrated-sensitivities were compared to the results obtained from the previous works that were carried out with MCNP and SCALE-6.2 simulation tools and differences of less than 5% were obtained for most of these quantities except for the C-graphite sensitivities. Moreover, the nuclear data uncertainties in the k_eff were derived using the COMAC-V2.1 covariance matrices library and the calculated sensitivities. The results have shown that the total nuclear data uncertainty in the k_eff is around 585 pcm using the COMAC-V2.1. This study also demonstrates that the contribution of zirconium isotopes to the nuclear data uncertainty in the k_eff is not negligible and should be taken into account when performing S/U analysis.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2001

The KN-12 spent nuclear fuel (SNF) transport cask is designed for transportation of up to 12 assemblies and is in standby status for being licensed in accordance with Korea Atomic Energy Act. To evaluate radiation shielding and criticality safety of the KN-12 cask, each case of study was carried out using MCNP4B Code. MCNP code is verified by performing benchmark calculation for the KSC-4 SNF cask designed in 1989. As a result of radiation safety evaluation for the KN-12 cask, calculated dose rates always satisfied the standards at the cask surface, at 2m from the surface in normal transport condition, and at 1 m from the surface in hypothetical accident condition. Maximum dose rate was always arisen on the side of the cask. For normal transport condition, photons primarily contribute to dose rate between two kinds of released sources, neutrons and photons, from spent nuclear fuel but for hypothetical accident condition, contrary case was resulted. The level of calculated dose rate was 27.8% of the limit at the cask surface, 89.3% at 2 m from the cask surface, and 25.1% at 1 m from the cask surface. For criticality analysis, keff resulting from the criticality analysis considering the condition of optimum partial flooding with fresh water is 0.89708(0.00065. The results confirm the standards recommended by all regulations on radiation safety.