2.4.

9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
z One-speed diffusion equation
{ based on the assumption that neutron
production, absorption and leakage occurs at
single neutron energy
z More accurate estimates with two or
more energy groups
z Two groups:
{ all neutrons are either in a fast or in a thermal
energy group
{ boundary between two groups is set to 1 eV.
{ thermal neutrons
z diffuse in a medium and cause fission or leak
out from the system
z source for thermal neutrons is provided by the
slowing down of fast neutrons (born in fission)
{ fast neutrons
z lost by slowing down due to elastic scattering in
the medium or leak out from the system
z source for fast neutrons is thermal neutron
fission

3
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory

zNeutron flux in the two group

approach

G 10 MeV G
Fast : φ1 ( r ) = ∫ φ ( E , r ) dE
1eV

G 1eV G
Thermal : φ2 ( r ) = ∫ φ ( E , r )dE
0

4
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory

neutron multiplication factor

ν
ν 1Σ f 1φ1 + ν 2 Σ f 2φ2
k=
− D1∇ 2φ1 − D2∇ 2φ2 + Σ a1φ1 + Σ a 2φ2
5
 D is corrected for anisotropic
Review scattering using the transport
mean free path

1 λtr
D= = ,
3Σ tr 3
transport cross section

1
Σtr = Σtot − Σ s μ =
λtr
2
μ = cosψ =
3A
average cosine of
the scattering angle
for collision in
laboratory system

6
zIf diffusion coefficient is a
function of nuclear
properties of a medium,

zdo we have one or more

diffusion coefficients when
applying the multigroup
approach?

zWHY?

7
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory

zDiffusion equations for the two

energy groups
{Fast energy group

D1∇ φ1 ( r ) − Σ a1φ1 ( r ) + S1 ( r ) = 0
2

fast neutron leakage which involves a fast diffusion coefficient

removal of fast neutrons by thermalization

removal cross section

Σ a1 = sum of the fission, capture

and scattering (from group 1 to
group 2) cross sections

fast neutron source which depends on thermal

neutron flux at the spatial positions where
8
thermal neutrons cause fission
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
D1∇ φ1 (r ) − Σ a1φ1 (r ) + S1 (r ) = 0
2

− D1∇ 2φ1 ( r ) + Σ a1φ1 ( r ) = vΣ f 1φ1 ( r ) + vΣ f 2φ2 ( r )

9
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
D1∇ φ1 (r ) − Σ a1φ1 (r ) + S1 (r ) = 0
2

z For each thermal neutron absorbed

z k ∞ / p fast neutrons are produced by fission
z resonance absorption during the slowing down
process of fast neutrons born in fission
{ p = resonance escape probability

ratio of neutrons produced in any generation

to the neutrons absorbed in the proceeding
generation

Thermal region
1
σa ∝
v

σa
Fast region

Epithermal (resonance) region

Slowing down

0.01 10 103 107 10

Energy, eV
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
D1∇ φ1 (r ) − Σ a1φ1 (r ) + S1 (r ) = 0
2

z For each thermal neutron absorbed

z k ∞ / p fast neutrons are produced by fission
z resonance absorption during the slowing down
process of fast neutrons born in fission
{ p = resonance escape probability

ratio of neutrons produced in any generation

to the neutrons absorbed in the proceeding
generation

z To produce fast neutrons we have to

absorb thermal neutrons to induce fission
(thermal reactors!!!):

z Thus, with the number of thermal

neutrons absorbed Σ a 2 φ 2 ( r )

k∞
D1∇ φ1 (r ) − Σ a1φ1 (r ) +
2
Σ a 2φ 2 ( r ) = 0
p 11
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
{Thermal energy group:
G G G
D2∇ φ2 (r ) − Σ a 2φ2 (r ) + S2 (r ) = 0.
2

leakage of thermal neutrons

thermal neutron absorptions (removal)

thermal neutron source

12
 2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
G G G
D2∇ φ2 (r ) − Σ a 2φ2 (r ) + S 2 (r ) = 0.
2

− D2∇ φ2 (r ) + Σ a 2φ2 (r ) − Σ s1− > 2φ1 (r ) = 0

2

13
 2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
G G G
D2∇ φ2 (r ) − Σ a 2φ2 (r ) + S 2 (r ) = 0.
2

z For each thermal neutron absorbed

z if there are no resonance absorptions
Σ a1φ1 ( r )
z would give the rate at which neutrons are
transferred to the thermal group (due to slowing
down only)

z BUT, due to resonance capture, the probability

that fast neutron will be thermalized is p
(resonance escape probability)
z Thus, thermal neutron source depends on fast
neutron flux

G G G
D2∇ φ2 (r ) − Σ a 2φ2 (r ) + pΣ a1φ1 (r ) = 0.
2

14
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
k∞
D1∇ 2φ1 (r ) − Σ a1φ1 (r ) + Σ a 2φ 2 ( r ) = 0
p
G G G
D2∇ φ2 (r ) − Σ a 2φ2 (r ) + pΣ a1φ1 (r ) = 0.
2

Both equations are dependent on fast and

thermal flux Æ a coupled system of equations.

In addition, for a critical steady-state system:

G G
⎧⎪∇ φ1 ( r ) + B φ1 ( r ) = 0
2 2

⎨ 2 G G
⎪⎩∇ φ2 ( r ) + B φ2 ( r ) = 0
2

buckling is same for both energy

groups because it depends only on the 15
core geometry for the critical system
 2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory

⎧ G k G
⎪−( D1 B + Σ a1 )φ1 (r ) + p Σ a 2φ2 (r ) = 0
2 ∞

⎨ G G
⎪−( D B 2 + Σ )φ (r ) + pΣ φ (r ) = 0
⎩ 2 a2 2 a1 1

setting the determinant of the

coefficients to zero (Cramer’s rule)

k∞ Σ a2
D1 B + Σ a1
2
−
p =0
− pΣ a1 D2 B 2 + Σ a 2

( D1 B 2 + Σ a1 )( )
D2 B 2 + Σ a 2 − k∞ Σ a1Σ a 2 = 0,
16
 2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory

( D1 B 2 + Σ a1 )( )
D2 B 2 + Σ a 2 − k∞ Σ a1Σ a 2 = 0,
Two-group diffusion
approximation for the
critical bare reactor

k∞
= k = 1,
(1 + L B )(1 + L B )
2
1
2 2
th
2

D2 Critical reactor: keff = 1

L ≡
2

Σa 2
th

D1
L ≡
2

Σ a1
1
17
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory
z One group diffusion equation
k∞ − 1
∇ φ + B φ = 0, B ≡ 2 .
2 2 2

L
⎡ 1 ⎤
1 = k∞ ⎢ 2 2 ⎥ Eq. (7-148)
⎢⎣ Bm L + 1 ⎥⎦

z Two group diffusion equation

k∞
= k = 1,
(1 + L B )(1 + L B )
2
1
2 2
th
2

Eq. (7-199)

18
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory

k∞
= k = 1,
(1 + L B )(1 + L B )
2
1
2 2
th
2

Eq. (7-199)

k∞
=1
1+ B 2
( L2th + L12 )+ B 4
L2th L12

B 2 << 1 Large reactors

k∞ k∞ − 1
=1 → B =
2

1+ B 2
(L 2
th
+L 2
1 ) M2

migration length 19
2.4.9 Two-Group Neutron
Diffusion Theory

k∞
= k = 1,
(1 + L B )(1 + L B )
2
1
2 2
th
2

k eff = k ∞ Pnon
th
P fast
−leak non −leak

1
P th
=
non − leak
(1 + L2th B 2 )
1
P fast
=
non − leak
( 1B )
1 + L2 2

20