FUAS: An uncertainty and sensitivity analysis toolkit for fuel rod performance code

Fuel rod performance codes are used to predict the behavior of fuel rods in reactors. The uncertainty and sensitivity analysis are always needed when developing or using these codes. However, fuel rod codes typically have two characteristics that make relevant analysis challenging: First, there are many input parameters for which uncertainty needs to be considered. Second, the structure of the models is complex, non-linear and non-additive. To make the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of a fuel rod code effectively and conveniently, an assistant toolkit, FUAS, has been developed recently by China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd. FUAS considers the fuel rod codes as black boxes and applies sampling-based approaches. Several statistical methods are available in this toolkit. A hypothetical steady-state scenario of the PWR fuel rod was simulated, and uncertainty and sensitivity analysis were performed with the sampling-based approach by coupling the fuel rod code and FUAS toolkit. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.