Work

ZED-2 benchmarks performed in OpenMC and Serpent2: A validation exercise for OpenMC applications

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The Zero Energy Deuterium (ZED-2) reactor is a zero-power research reactor located at the Chalk River site of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). The reactor was built to assist in neutronics code validation efforts for CANadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactors, but may find further use in the validation of computer codes used in the design of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). This paper describes the application of the OpenMC and SERPENT 2 codes to two published benchmarks for ZED-2 neutronics experiments. The results were then compared to MCNP and MONK code results on file. Experiments from the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) handbook were reviewed to establish the differences one might expect from Monte Carlo code-to-code comparisons. The completed benchmarks were assessed against this review. In this manner, the OpenMC code is validated both against an experiment and against other validated codes.

Source: Annals of Nuclear Energy

DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2025.112060

Authors: Peter J. Kriemadis, Adriaan Buijs

Language: English

Topic: Nuclear reactor physics and engineering

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,820

Funder: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Awards: G322567775, Development of a Subcritical Test Facility