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What is Axial Offset Anomaly – Crud Induced Power Shift – Definition

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It was found that axial offset anomaly (AOA) can be caused by crud buildup on high-power fuel assemblies, in which an increased subcooled nucleate boiling can occur. Thermal Engineering

Axial Offset Anomaly

AFD - Axial Flux Difference - Axial Offset ControlAs was written, the axial offset – A/O (or AFD) and the QPTR are direct and continuous measures of the core’s global power distribution. A/O measures global axial power distribution, whereas QPTR measures global azimuthal power distribution. Staying within their limits and proper operation of the control rods should maintain acceptable peaking factors (FQ(z) and FΔH) on a continuous basis. The AFD and QPTR limits ensure that peaking factors (FQ(z) and FΔH) remain below their limiting values by preventing an undetected change in the gross axial and radial power distribution.

In past, some PWR-type nuclear power plants (with LiOH water chemistry) have experienced small radial and especially axial offset anomalies (AOA). That means, some PWRs have experienced a unexpected and gradual shift in the target flux difference (ΔItarget) towards more negative values – shift of power from top half to bottom half.

After extensive research, it was found that axial offset anomaly can be caused by crud buildup on high-power fuel assemblies, in which an increased subcooled nucleate boiling can occur. Therefore this phenomenon is also known as the crud induced power shift (CIPS). Since this subcooled nucleate boiling occurs in the upper part of the assembly, crud accumulation causes an accumulation of boron on the surface of the upper part of the assembly. Lithium borate is absorbed and concentrated in the crud layer, reducing the fission rate in the upper portion of the core. It must be noted, not all reactor cores have experianced the AOA, it is now known that AOA is caused by a combination of high crud level in the coolant, high boiling intensity in the core and is strongly dependent on reactor water chemistry. Note that, some reactor design use LiOH to control pH of the reactor coolant and some use KOH.

In result, during fuel cycle the neutron flux shifts from top half to bottom half and causes an increase in local peaking factors. Crud accumulation may also cause a reduction in available SDM (3-4 pcm/day).  Near the end of cycle, excess burnup in the bottom of the core and reduced boron and lithium concentrations in the reactor coolant system cause the power distribution to shift back toward the upper portion of the core, partially restoring the burnup distribution.

Special Reference: Information Notice No. 97-85: Effects of Crud Buildup and Boron Deposition on Power Distribution and Shutdown Margin, US NRC, 12/1997.

 
AFD vs. A/O
AFD is defined as:

AFD or ΔI = Itop – Ibottom

where Itop and Ibottom are expressed as a fraction of rated thermal power. As an example, assume the core is operating at 100% power. When the Itop = 49% and Ibottom = 51% the resulting ΔI = -2%. When the delta flux target is -5%. The core would then be able to operate with a delta flux of -10% to 0%. The + 5% and -5% flux difference around the target allows for a small amount of movement of the control rods.

For plants operating with so called “constant axial offset control – CAOC”, the AFD limit involves a target band. This target band is, for example, +5% and -5% around the target value. Since the xenon concentration and distribution is flux and time dependent, the longer the core operates outside its target band, the greater the probability of initiating a xenon transient.

Constant Axial Offset Control (CAOC) is a strategy, which is used to control axial power distribution in normal operation. CAOC requires that the AFD must be controlled within a narrow tolerance band around a burnup dependent target to minimize the probability of initiation xenon oscillations during power maneuvers. It also minimizes the variation of axial peaking factors.

Axial offset is defined as:

A/O = (Itop – Ibottom)/(Itop + Ibottom)

where Itop and Ibottom are expressed as a fraction of rated thermal power.

 

 
References:
Nuclear and Reactor Physics:
  1. J. R. Lamarsh, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory, 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA (1983).
  2. J. R. Lamarsh, A. J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3d ed., Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN: 0-201-82498-1.
  3. W. M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, ISBN: 0- 471-39127-1.
  4. Glasstone, Sesonske. Nuclear Reactor Engineering: Reactor Systems Engineering, Springer; 4th edition, 1994, ISBN: 978-0412985317
  5. W.S.C. Williams. Nuclear and Particle Physics. Clarendon Press; 1 edition, 1991, ISBN: 978-0198520467
  6. G.R.Keepin. Physics of Nuclear Kinetics. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co; 1st edition, 1965
  7. Robert Reed Burn, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Operation, 1988.
  8. U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory. DOE Fundamentals Handbook, Volume 1 and 2. January 1993.

Advanced Reactor Physics:

  1. K. O. Ott, W. A. Bezella, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Statics, American Nuclear Society, Revised edition (1989), 1989, ISBN: 0-894-48033-2.
  2. K. O. Ott, R. J. Neuhold, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Dynamics, American Nuclear Society, 1985, ISBN: 0-894-48029-4.
  3. D. L. Hetrick, Dynamics of Nuclear Reactors, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48453-2.
  4. E. E. Lewis, W. F. Miller, Computational Methods of Neutron Transport, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48452-4.

See also:

AFD

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