Monte Carlo and Deterministic Neutronics Analyses of YALINA Thermal Facility and Comparison with Experimental Results

This study compares Monte Carlo and deterministic neutronics analyses of the zero-power YALINA Thermal subcritical assembly, which is located in Minsk, Belarus. The YALINA Thermal facility consists of a subcritical core that can be driven by either a californium neutron source or a deuterium-deuterium (D-D) neutron source. The californium neutron source is generated by the natural decay of ²⁵²Cf; the D-D neutron source is generated by a deuteron accelerator. The MCNPX, MONK, NJOY, DRAGON, PARTISN, and TORT computer programs have been used for calculating the neutron spectrum, the neutron flux, and the ³He(n,p) reaction rate set by californium and D-D neutron sources. These parameters have been computed in different experimental channels of the assembly for different fuel loading configurations. The MCNPX and MONK computer programs modeled the facility without any major approximation; the PARTISN and TORT computer simulations used 69 energy groups, S₁₆ angular quadrature set, linear anisotropic scattering, and approximately 60 homogenized material zones. The results calculated by different computer programs are in good agreement; in addition, they match the ³He(n,p) reaction rate from experimental measurements obtained by californium and D-D neutron sources.