Patent ID: 7532698
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: G21C,G21D,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a critical effective k at an off-rated core state of a nuclear power plant, the method comprising: determining for the off-rated core state a control rod density, a percent core power, a gadolinium reactivity worth, a doppler reactivity worth, and a xenon reactivity worth responsive to a control rod pattern, a reactor power plan including the off-rated core state, and a reference effective k; calculating a change in an effective k from the reference effective k at the off-rated core state responsive to two or more parameters at the off-rated core state selected from the group consisting of the control rod density, the percent core power, the gadolinium reactivity worth, the doppler reactivity worth, and the xenon reactivity worth; and generating the critical effective k at the off-rated core state responsive to the change in the effective k from the reference effective k at the off-rated core state.