Fixing MCNPX Fatal Error: Too Many Numbers First Entry

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around troubleshooting a fatal error encountered while using the MCNPX application, specifically the "too many numbers first entry" error. Participants explore potential causes related to input file formatting, geometry specifications, and the addition of burn-up cards in reactor simulations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the error may stem from incorrect formatting in the input file, particularly regarding the number of spaces for continued lines and potential typos in specific lines.
  • There are mentions of geometry errors, with some participants indicating that a duplicate mt3 card could be causing the source rejection.
  • Several participants discuss the need for a "vol" card to define the volume of cells, with one noting that providing a calculated volume for cell 1 resolved a fatal error.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the necessity of adding "vol" cards for other cells, while others clarify that only the cell with material 1 needs it.
  • There is a discussion about the MATVOL parameter, with participants indicating that it should reflect the total volume of fuel based on the number of rods.
  • Some participants inquire about the calculation of volume and the rationale behind multiplying by 209 for the MATVOL value.
  • There are conflicting views on whether the application requires an ignore line or if the ksrc line is correctly specified, with some suggesting changes to fix the errors encountered.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the causes of the error and the necessary corrections. While some solutions are proposed, there is no consensus on a definitive fix, and multiple competing views on the input specifications remain.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in the documentation and potential errors in the input file that could lead to the fatal error. There are unresolved questions about specific parameters and their implications for the simulation results.

emilmammadzada
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When I run the application, I get an error message. This message: Fatal error too many numbers first entry. What could be the reason?MCNPX
When I run the application, I get an error message. This message: Fatal error too many numbers first entry. What could be the reason?
 

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Continued lines are 5 spaces, not 3.

Line 25,
Code:
     94241 60c 3 3997e 94241.60c 3.3997e-4
Seems to have 3 typos. 2 missing .'s and a missing exponent.

You have a duplicate mt3 card, one with a typo.

The source is being rejected, and I'm not seeing it by eye. Usually means a geometry error. I'll continue to look at it.
 
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Alex A said:
Continued lines are 5 spaces, not 3.

Line 25,
Code:
     94241 60c 3 3997e 94241.60c 3.3997e-4
Seems to have 3 typos. 2 missing .'s and a missing exponent.

You have a duplicate mt3 card, one with a typo.

The source is being rejected, and I'm not seeing it by eye. Usually means a geometry error. I'll continue to look at it.
I want to add a burn up card to the sample reactor in mcnp. For this, I wanted to learn how to add a nail to the burn up card first.
 
Your ksrc is the 'other' side of cell 3, on the edge of or into the void. Changing it to "ksrc 0 0 150" fixes that.

mcnpx gave me an error that makes me think we might need an ignore line. mcnp6 is running the kcode, which might take a while. So this is mostly fixed.
 

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Alex A said:
Your ksrc is the 'other' side of cell 3, on the edge of or into the void. Changing it to "ksrc 0 0 150" fixes that.

mcnpx gave me an error that makes me think we might need an ignore line. mcnp6 is running the kcode, which might take a while. So this is mostly fixed.
https://mcnp.lanl.gov/pdf_files/la-ur-09-2051.pdf The application I tried to make an example is from this pdf PFRAC=F1,F2,F3,. what does this code mean?
 
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The ksrc line is an error in the document that has a different correct description later on. KSRC 0 0 182.5 is the middle of the pin location.
 
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Alex A said:
The ksrc line is an error in the document that has a different correct description later on. KSRC 0 0 182.5 is the middle of the pin location.
my aim is to add burn up card to this reactor. but i don't know how to do it
 

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The six lines immediately after the BURN card are variables that belong to it, so they need five spaces or MCNP/X will think they are commands.

The OMIT line has been messed with, look up the syntax and fix it. You may need to add additional nuclides that X has no tables for. That may be a BOPTS issue, X can ignore those kinds of errors.

Some of the cells are badly specified, and I've tweaked them to be limited in z to give them finite calculable volume. X still complains
Code:
fatal error.  zero volume for burn cell        1. use vol card.
which I did to every cell with no calculated volume except the void cell (which is infinite). I also added a MATVOL=28426.299 parameter to the BURN, which is needed when a lattice is being used. Now I am stuck because this error is not going away. I will try again tomorrow.

Edit,
Literally giving cell 1 a vol card with the value it calculated itself solves the error.
 
Last edited:
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yes i am getting the same error in the code. It works without a burn card. It's probably a problem with the vol card in this code.
 
  • #10
Alex A said:
The six lines immediately after the BURN card are variables that belong to it, so they need five spaces or MCNP/X will think they are commands.

The OMIT line has been messed with, look up the syntax and fix it. You may need to add additional nuclides that X has no tables for. That may be a BOPTS issue, X can ignore those kinds of errors.

Some of the cells are badly specified, and I've tweaked them to be limited in z to give them finite calculable volume. X still complains
Code:
fatal error.  zero volume for burn cell        1. use vol card.
which I did to every cell with no calculated volume except the void cell (which is infinite). I also added a MATVOL=28426.299 parameter to the BURN, which is needed when a lattice is being used. Now I am stuck because this error is not going away. I will try again tomorrow.

Edit,
Literally giving cell 1 a vol card with the value it calculated itself solves the error.
How can I add a vol card to this input file?
 
  • #11
Don't make new threads for this problem. My line reads like this,
Code:
1     1   0.068525    -18 1 -2              vol=136.011  u=1         $ Fuel Pin

1 and -2 are limits in Z to make the volume finite so the program can calculate the volume itself. At that point it still didn't run to the end. I then just fed this value back into the line with the vol= part.
 
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  • #12
Alex A said:
Don't make new threads for this problem. My line reads like this,
Code:
1     1   0.068525    -18 1 -2              vol=136.011  u=1         $ Fuel Pin

1 and -2 are limits in Z to make the volume finite so the program can calculate the volume itself. At that point it still didn't run to the end. I then just fed this value back into the line with the vol= part.
Should I add a vol card for other cells or only the first cell is enough for this reactor?
 
  • #13
That is only cell with material 1 in it. BURN was told about material 1, so you don't need any other cell.

According to the manual you need a MATVOL with the BURN card, because this is a lattice. I'm assuming that value is 209 * 136.011. I'm not familiar with BURN, so it now runs but I don't know enough to be sure the result is correct.
 
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  • #14
Alex A said:
That is only cell with material 1 in it. BURN was told about material 1, so you don't need any other cell.

According to the manual you need a MATVOL with the BURN card, because this is a lattice. I'm assuming that value is 209 * 136.011. I'm not familiar with BURN, so it now runs but I don't know enough to be sure the result is correct.
vol=136.011 how did you calculate this? is there a formula or something?the code didn't work either, I did the same
 

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  • #15
You can do it with maths, cell 1 is formed from surface 18, which is cz, a cylinder and you know the radius.

MCNP will try to calculate the volume of every cell. If you read through the output file, you'll see the list. What they are or why the program failed to work it out.

I made the volume finite by adding 1 and -2, and then I simply read the output file.
 
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  • #16
Alex A said:
You can do it with maths, cell 1 is formed from surface 18, which is cz, a cylinder and you know the radius.

MCNP will try to calculate the volume of every cell. If you read through the output file, you'll see the list. What they are or why the program failed to work it out.

I made the volume finite by adding 1 and -2, and then I simply read the output file.
Do you add burn time in your input file?the application gave an error in the burn time part
 
  • #17
You already have two burn times in your input file, 50 days and 200 days.
 
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  • #18
Alex A said:
You already have two burn times in your input file, 50 days and 200 days.
I guess I need to use ksrc instead of sdef, but I couldn't see keff values either.
 

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  • #19
emilmammadzada said:
vol=136.011 how did you calculate this? is there a formula or something?the code didn't work either, I did the same
Alex A said:
That is only cell with material 1 in it. BURN was told about material 1, so you don't need any other cell.

According to the manual you need a MATVOL with the BURN card, because this is a lattice. I'm assuming that value is 209 * 136.011. I'm not familiar with BURN, so it now runs but I don't know enough to be sure the result is correct.
Why do you multiply the value by 209 in matvol. What does the number .209 mean?
 
  • #20
BURN needs the volume of fuel. That is the volume of one fuel rod core multiplied by the number of rods, which I think is 209.
 
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