Analysis of Major Group Structures Used for Nuclear Reactor Simulations

Nuclear reactor simulation is often based on multi-group cross-section libraries. The structure and resolution of these libraries have a strong influence on the accuracy and computational time; hence, number of groups and energy structure must be carefully considered. The relationship between group structures and how they impact generated cross-sections can be a critical parameter. Common energy boundaries shared among major group structures were identified and the relative kinship among those was reconstructed in an effort to build a family tree of major group structures. Stochastic code Serpent2 [1] was employed to generate cross-sections of selected isotopes at different reactor compositions and conditions, using the investigated energy group structures. The impact on their generation was quantified by spectral weighted deviation. The 35 major energy structures were divided into three basic families. The key parameters distinguishing them were their applicability to thermal or fast reactors and their applicability in neutronic or multiphysics investigations. A sensitivity threshold of the generated cross-sections over the group structure resolution was investigated. The aim was to identify a group structure with very low dependency on the actual reactor spectrum.