1. |
- Rochman, D., et al.
(author)
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Nuclear Data Uncertainties for Typical LWR Fuel Assemblies and a Simple Reactor Core
- 2017
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In: Nuclear Data Sheets. - : Elsevier BV. - 0090-3752 .- 1095-9904. ; 139, s. 1-76
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Abstract The impact of the current nuclear data library covariances such as in ENDF/B-VII.1, JEFF-3.2, JENDL-4.0, SCALE and TENDL, for relevant current reactors is presented in this work. The uncertainties due to nuclear data are calculated for existing PWR and BWR fuel assemblies (with burn-up up to 40 GWd/tHM, followed by 10 years of cooling time) and for a simplified PWR full core model (without burn-up) for quantities such as k ∞ , macroscopic cross sections, pin power or isotope inventory. In this work, the method of propagation of uncertainties is based on random sampling of nuclear data, either from covariance files or directly from basic parameters. Additionally, possible biases on calculated quantities are investigated such as the self-shielding treatment. Different calculation schemes are used, based on CASMO, SCALE, DRAGON, MCNP or FISPACT-II, thus simulating real-life assignments for technical-support organizations. The outcome of such a study is a comparison of uncertainties with two consequences. One: although this study is not expected to lead to similar results between the involved calculation schemes, it provides an insight on what can happen when calculating uncertainties and allows to give some perspectives on the range of validity on these uncertainties. Two: it allows to dress a picture of the state of the knowledge as of today, using existing nuclear data library covariances and current methods.
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2. |
- Paradela, C., et al.
(author)
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Isotopic production cross sections of residual nuclei in the spallation reaction Xe-136 (200A MeV) + p
- 2017
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In: Physical Review C. - 2469-9985 .- 2469-9993. ; 95:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The residual nuclei produced in the spallation reaction of Xe-136 nuclei at 200A MeV on protons have been studied by measuring the isotopic distributions for the elements from cadmium (Z = 48) to cesium (Z = 55) by using the fragment separator (FRS) spectrometer at GSI and the inverse kinematics technique. This is one of the few measurements performed at such a low projectile energy, close to the validity limit for intranuclear cascade models such as INCL or ISABEL. The experimental results have been compared to these intranuclear cascade codes coupled to the evaporation code ABLA. Both code combinations reproduce qualitatively the measured isotopic distributions; however, both underestimate the production of residues with mass numbers between 126 and 134. The measured cross sections are of interest for the planning of future radioactive beam or neutron source facilities.
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3. |
- Rochman, D., et al.
(author)
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A Bayesian Monte Carlo method for fission yield covariance information
- 2016
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In: Annals of Nuclear Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0306-4549 .- 1873-2100. ; 95, s. 125-134
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present work proposes a Bayesian method to combine theoretical fission yields with a set of reference data. These two sources of information are merged using a Monte Carlo process, and leads to a so-called Bayesian Monte Carlo update. Examples are presented for the independent fission yields of four major actinides, using the GEF code as a source of theoretical calculations and an evaluated library of fission yields for the reference data. The impact of the updated fission yields and their covariances is shown for two distinct applications: a UO2 pincell with burn-up up to 40 GWD/tHM and decay heat calculations of a thermal neutron pulse on U-235 and Pu-239.
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4. |
- Rochman, D., et al.
(author)
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Re-evaluation of the thermal neutron capture cross section of Nd-147
- 2016
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In: Annals of Nuclear Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0306-4549 .- 1873-2100. ; 94, s. 612-617
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper we are proposing a re-evaluation of the thermal-neutron induced capture cross section of Nd-147. A unique measurement exists from which this cross section was calculated in 1974. This original calculation is based on an assumed value for a specific gamma-ray fraction (called F-2), taken from the neighboring nucleus Nd-145. With the availability of reaction codes such as TALYS, such fraction can nowadays be calculated using specific reaction models and parameters. The new value of F-2 indicates a decrease of the thermal cross section by 45%, leading to 243 barns, instead of the 440 barns previously reported. This new cross section impacts the calculation of the number density for the well-known burn-up indicator Nd-148, but as shown, the change is close to the usual experimental uncertainties for the 148Nd number densities, thus having a limited impact on burn-up calculation.
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