Update status of benchmark activity for reactor physics study of LWR next generation fuels

Unesaki, Hironobu*; Okumura, Keisuke; Kitada, Takanori*; Saji, Etsuro*

Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 88, p.436 - 438, 2003/06

In order to investigate the calculation accuracy of the nuclear characteristics of LWR next generation fuels, the Research Committee on Reactor Physics organized by JAERI has proposed "Reactor Physics Benchmark for LWR Next Generation Fuels". The next generation fuels aim at very high burn-up of about 70GWd/t in PWR or BWR with UO or MOX fuels whose fissile enrichments may exceed the Japanese regulatory limitations for the current LWR fuels such as 5wt.% U-235. Until now, twelve organizations have pariticipated in the benchmark activity. From the comparison with the cell burn-up calculation results using different codes and library data, status of the calculation accuracy and future subjects are clarified.