Influence of entropy changes on reactor period

TL;DR

This paper models the reactor period as a stochastic variable influenced by entropy changes, providing new relations and dispersion expressions to better understand and control reactor behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a probabilistic approach to reactor period analysis based on entropy changes, extending beyond traditional deterministic models.

Findings

Derived relations linking entropy change to reactor period

Obtained expressions for the dispersion of the reactor period

Demonstrated the importance of entropy in reactor control

Abstract

The period of a nuclear reactor is usually represented as a deterministic quantity. In this article, the reactor period is described as a random variable. An approach based on the first passage time is used. In this case, the effect of the change in entropy on the value of the period of the reactor is determined. Relations are obtained that describe the effect of entropy on the period of the reactor. Expressions are obtained for the dispersion of the reactor period. This value cannot be found from a deterministic approach. Knowing the effect of total entropy change on the period of the reactor makes it possible to control the behavior of the reactor.