INTRODUCTION

Purpose

This training manual is a guide meant to help an OSCAR-5 user to better navigate through and use their existing OSCAR-5 reactor models. This tutorial presents a big-picture overview of the system and its functionalities and can be seen as a typical starting point for a new user. Supplemental, more detailed tutorials are available to guide the user through a step-by-step engagement with the system on its individual aspects and can be consulted at a later stage. These include:

• First OSCAR-5 Run

• Mini Core Part 1: heterogeneous model

• Mini Core Part 2: homogeneous model

• Full-Core Applications

Further OSCAR-related information can be found on the OSCAR-5 website and in the rest of this OSCAR-5 user documentation set.

Back to this training manual, the first section provides a concise look at a basic OSCAR-5 application, in one file. This section is meant as a very first simple OSCAR-5 model, to introduce the system to new users.

All sections thereafter uses an existing OSCAR-5 reactor model and broaden significantly in scope. The first section on Model Navigation covers various ways in which a user can explore their model and where to access specific data associated with the model. This is followed by Managing your Inventory and Managing your Core Loading as some primary activities in your OSCAR-5 model. The last section Ad-Hoc Analysis covers best practices for using your system for ad-hoc type analysis studies and how to go about this without impacting the rest of your calculations and models (such as your official reload and core-follow line).

Note

The OSCAR-5 platform is designed to be very flexible and user-customizable. As such there are no right or wrong ways in which to use your system and your model. This tutorial will share a few recommended approaches but it is up to each user to find what works best for them. Typically each reactor model should be accompanied by a model management document which should outline how said model is used for formal applications such as core reload and design calculations.

Tutorial Setup

This tutorial is not associated with any specific model. Rather, you are encouraged to have your own OSCAR-5 model at hand so that you can walk through the tasks covered and thus navigate through and learn more about your reactor model. However, all inputs and examples discussed in this tutorial are present in the OSCAR-5 SAFARI-1 benchmark problem provided as part of your installation. Relevant files in this benchmark model are marked with demo in their names.