A Monte Carlo based nodal diffusion model for criticality analysis of spent fuel storage lattices

A computational method is presented as an alternative to the Monte Carlo and transport theory models presently used for the criticality analysis of regular lattices for spent fuel storage. The method is developed in the framework of nodal diffusion theory, with nodal parameters obtained from continuous energy Monte Carlo computations. The applicability and the accuracy of the method are assessed in two-dimensional geometry through several benchmark problems.