Coupling of density wave oscillations in parallel channels with high order modal kinetics: application to BWR out of phase oscillations

Abstract In this paper, we study the behavior of a system formed by two parallel channels coupled to a multimodal kinetics. The first problem that arises is the calculation of the reactivity coefficients for the higher modes. This problem is solved by means of the introduction of distribution factors for a given reactor region which depend on the involved modes. We have also performed a detailed analysis of the different instability types which can be obtained from the model changing the boundary conditions and the feedback gains of the fundamental and first harmonic modes.