KANUPP Reactor Core Model and its Validation

KArachi NUclear Power Plant (KANUPP), CANadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) type, is the first power reactor of Pakistan. It has been in operation to produce electricity since 1972. After the successful completion of its life span, it has been planned to be decommissioned in 2020. In this research work, a Monte Carlo model of KANUPP fresh core is developed using open computer simulation code OpenMC and validated against the reference results. For validation, the variation of excess reactivity with moderator level (critical moderator height) along with the important feedback effects like moderator temperature coefficient and coolant temperature coefficient are calculated and compared with the reference data. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the simulated and reference values for the above mentioned parameters. This detailed and validated simulation model may be used for the study of material changes of the in-core and out-core components for decommissioning of the reactor.