Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.

In summary: As noted by Astronuc, this is not the true mean temperature of the bundle due to things like natural convection.In summary, neutrons are slowed down by water in an LWR, and in a BWR the moderator is maintained much cooler. The temperatures vary quite a bit - fuel pellets in a working reactor reach close to the melting point of UO2 at the center of the pellets (by design), and the coolant enters at 275°C (548 K) and exits at 319°C (592 K) in an ACR (for example), the neutrons are born at very high speeds - typically ~2 MeV.
  • #1
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Any one has some links, papers... anything describes the maxwell-boltzmann distribution that characterize neutrons in thermal equilibrium with the reactor core material at specific temperature...?
I want to get a crude estimation of energy-dependence neutrons flux for energies below 1 eV.
 
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  • #2
Neutrons slow down in the water (in an LWR) which in a PWR has an inlet temperature of about 275 to 293°C, and an exit temperature of about 300 to 327°C (up to 330°C in the hot channel). In a BWR, the inlet is about 274°C and the exit temperature is at saturation of the core pressure, so the temperature is about 274 to 276°C. BWRs can use spectral shift in which flow is reduced to increase voiding, and that leads to under-moderation which hardens the spectrum which allows for resonance capture in U-238.

The fuel is hotter, typically about 400°C on the pellet periphery, and with a centerline temperature of ~900 to 1400°C depending on the linear power. The average fuel temperature is in between ~700 to 800°C.

The moderator to fuel volume is about 1:1 give or take.
 
  • #3
http://tannerm.com/maxwell_boltzmann.htm
As Astronuc notes, the temperatures vary quite a bit - [STRIKE]fuel pellets in a working reactor reach close to the melting point of UO2 at the center of the pellets (by design)[/STRIKE], and the coolant enters at 275°C (548 K) and exits at 319°C (592 K) in an ACR (for example), the moderator is maintained much cooler.
Furthermore, the neutrons are born at very high speeds - typically ~2 MeV; a significant portion of the neutrons will be fast.
http://www.neimagazine.com/journals/Power/NEI/September_2004/attachments/NEISept04p26-35.pdf is a fuel bundle description for various reactors; choose the data for your type and run the numbers.

But, if you were to assume a homogenous reactor at the mean temperature, you would have an order of magnitude estimate. A Westinghouse bundle, for instance, is 214mmx214mm, and has 264 8.19mm dia fuel rods; if it was fully loaded, it would be 30% fuel - but the flow channel is only 60%, the other 10% is the gap and wall. Call it .3 * 1000K, .6 * 570K, .1 * 620K so mean temperature is ~700K.
 
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1. What is the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution?

The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is a probability distribution that describes the speeds of particles in a gas at a given temperature. It is named after James Clerk Maxwell and Ludwig Boltzmann, who independently derived the distribution in the late 19th century.

2. What factors affect the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution?

The distribution is affected by the temperature and mass of the particles in the gas. As temperature increases, the distribution shifts towards higher speeds, and as mass increases, the distribution shifts towards lower speeds.

3. How is the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution related to the ideal gas law?

The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is derived from the ideal gas law, which describes the relationship between pressure, volume, temperature, and the number of particles in a gas. The distribution provides a more detailed understanding of how particles behave in a gas at a given temperature.

4. What is the significance of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution in thermodynamics?

The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is an important concept in thermodynamics because it helps explain the behavior of gases at different temperatures. It is used to calculate the average speed of particles, as well as the distribution of speeds in a gas. This information is crucial for understanding various thermodynamic processes.

5. Can the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution be applied to other systems besides gases?

Yes, the distribution can be applied to any system of particles that can be described by the ideal gas law, such as liquids and solids. However, it is most commonly used to describe the behavior of gases due to the simplicity of the ideal gas law and the assumptions made in deriving the distribution.

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