Proposal and analysis of the benchmark problem suite for reactor physics study of LWR next generation fuels

Research Committee on Reactor Physics

The Working Party on Reactor Physics for LWR Next Generation Fuels in the Research Committee on Reactor Physics, which is organized by the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, has recently proposed a series of benchmark problems to investigate the calculation accuracy of the nuclear characteristics of LWR next generation fuels. The next generation fuels mean the ones aiming for further extended burnup such as 70GWd/t over the current design. The resultant specifications of the benchmark problem therefore neglect some of the current limitations such as 5wt%235U to achieve the above-mentioned target. The Working Party proposed six benchmark problems, which consist of pin-cell, PWR assembly and BWR assembly geometries loaded with uranium and MOX fuels, respectively. The present report describes the detailed specifications of the benchmark problems. The results of preliminary analyses performed by the eleven member organizations and their comparisons are also presented.