Investigation of reflector role in neutronic and control parameters of small modular reactor core using Monte Carlo modeling

Due to the many advantages of small modular reactors, including high safety, easier commercialization, and higher efficiency, are the design, development and construction plans of many countries, especially the leading countries in the nuclear industry in the Stable, safe and economical energy production program. Hence, in this paper, an attempt has been made to analyze the role of reflectors in determining the control and neutronic parameters of the CAREM-25 advanced small modular reactor core using the code MCNPX2.7.0. code modeling. In this regard, the reactor core was modeled in two states of presence and absence of reflector to calculate and compare the K-factor, excess reactivity and neutron flux distribution in the both two states. Results illustrated that a significant volume of water as a reflector had a large effect on the neutron population of the core of this reactor and could increase the excess reactivity by about 20 (mK).