Estimation method of systematic uncertainties in Monte Carlo particle transport simulation based on analysis of variance

Hashimoto, Shintaro; Sato, Tatsuhiko

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(4), p.345 - 354, 2019/04

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1585989

Particle transport simulations based on the Monte Carlo method have been applied to shielding calculations. Estimation of not only statistical uncertainty related to the number of trials but also systematic one induced by unclear physical quantities is required to confirm the reliability of calculated results. In this study, we applied a method based on analysis of variance to shielding calculations. We proposed random- and three-condition methods. The first one determines randomly the value of the unclear quantity, while the second one uses only three values: the default value, upper and lower limits. The systematic uncertainty can be estimated adequately by the random-condition method, though it needs the large computational cost. The three-condition method can provide almost the same estimate as the random-condition method when the effect of the variation is monotonic. We found criterion to confirm convergence of the systematic uncertainty as the number of trials increases.

Neutron transport

Tamura, Itaru

Hamon, 28(4), p.204 - 207, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.5611/hamon.28.4_204

A Neutron guide is one of the devices to transport neutron beam for long distance without sacrificing much neutrons; therefore, it can supply neutrons to many experimental instruments distributed in a large experimental hall. Also, by using a curved guide, only the neutrons in a required energy range can be transported, and rays and fast neutrons can be effectively eliminated, therefore the signal to background ratio is improved. In addition, a neutron beam can be branched by applying curved guides. Neutron guides are also used to control the divergence angle and intensity of the neutron beam supplied to the neutron instrument.

Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, 1; Pulsed spallation neutron source

Takada, Hiroshi; Haga, Katsuhiro; Teshigawara, Makoto; Aso, Tomokazu; Meigo, Shinichiro; Kogawa, Hiroyuki; Naoe, Takashi; Wakui, Takashi; Oi, Motoki; Harada, Masahide; et al.

Quantum Beam Science (Internet), 1(2), p.8_1 - 8_26, 2017/09

https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs1020008

At the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), a pulsed spallation neutron source provides neutrons with high intensity and narrow pulse width to promote researches on a variety of science in the Materials and life science experimental facility. It was designed to be driven by the proton beam with an energy of 3 GeV, a power of 1 MW at a repetition rate of 25 Hz, that is world's highest power level. A mercury target and three types of liquid para-hydrogen moderators are core components of the spallation neutron source. It is still on the way towards the goal to accomplish the operation with a 1 MW proton beam. In this paper, distinctive features of the target-moderator-reflector system of the pulsed spallation neutron source are reviewed.

Improvement of neutron startup source handling work by developing new transportation container for High-Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR)

Shimazaki, Yosuke; Sawahata, Hiroaki; Shinohara, Masanori; Yanagida, Yoshinori; Kawamoto, Taiki; Takada, Shoji

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 54(2), p.260 - 266, 2017/02

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2016.1255574

The High-Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) has three neutron startup sources (NSs) in the reactor core, each of which consists of Cf with 3.7 GBq and is contained in a small capsule, installed in NS holder and subsequently in a control guide block (CR block). The NSs are exchanged at the interval of approximately 7 years. The NS holders are transported from the dealer's hot cell to the reactor facility of HTTR using a transportation container. The loading work of NS holders to the CR blocks is subsequently carried out in the fuel handling machine maintenance pit of HTTR. Technical issues, which are the reduction and prevention of radiation exposure of workers and the exclusion of falling of NS holder, were extracted from the experiences in past two exchange works of NSs to develop a safety handling procedure. Then, a new transportation container special to the NSs of HTTR was developed to solve the technical issues while keeping the cost as low as that for overhaul of conventional container. As the results, the NS handling work using the new transportation container was safely accomplished by developing the new transportation container which can reduce the risks of radiation exposure dose of workers and exclude the falling of NS holder.

Development of transportation container for the neutron startup source of High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR)

Shimazaki, Yosuke; Ono, Masato; Tochio, Daisuke; Takada, Shoji; Sawahata, Hiroaki; Kawamoto, Taiki; Hamamoto, Shimpei; Shinohara, Masanori

Proceedings of International Topical Meeting on Research Reactor Fuel Management and Meeting of the International Group on Reactor Research (RRFM/IGORR 2016) (Internet), p.1034 - 1042, 2016/03

In High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR), three neutron holders containing Cf with 3.7 GBq for each are loaded in the graphite blocks and inserted into the reactor core as a neutron startup source which is changed at the interval of approximately ten years. These neutron holders containing the neutron sources are transported from the dealer's hot cell to HTTR using the transportation container. The holders loading to the graphite block are carried out in the fuel handling machine maintenance pit of HTTR. There were two technical issues for the safety handling work of the neutron holder. The one is the radiation exposure caused by significant movement of the container due to an earthquake, because the conventional transportation container was so large (1240 mm, h1855 mm) that it can not be fixed on the top floor of maintenance pit by bolts. The other is the falling of the neutron holder caused by the difficult remote handling work, because the neutron holder capsule was also so long (155 mm, h1285 mm) that it can not be pulled into the adequate working space in the maintenance pit. Therefore, a new and low cost transportation container, which can solve the issues, was developed. To avoid the neutron and ray exposure, smaller transportation container (820mm, h1150 mm) which can be fixed on the top floor of maintenance pit by bolts was developed. In addition, to avoid the falling of the neutron holder, smaller neutron holder capsule (75 mm, h135 mm) with simple handling mechanism which can be treated easily by manipulator was also developed. As the result of development, the neutron holder handling work was safely accomplished. Moreover, a cost reduction for manufacturing was also achieved by simplifying the mechanism of neutron holder capsule and downsizing.

Measurement of neutron spectra produced in the forward direction from thick graphite, Al, Fe and Pb targets bombarded by 350 MeV protons

Iwamoto, Yosuke; Taniguchi, Shingo*; Nakao, Noriaki*; Itoga, Toshio*; Nakamura, Takashi*; Nakane, Yoshihiro; Nakashima, Hiroshi; Satoh, Daiki; Yashima, Hiroshi*; Yamakawa, Hiroshi*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 562(2), p.789 - 792, 2006/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2006.02.056

Neutron energy spectra produced from thick targets play an important role in validation of calculation codes that are employed in the design of spallation neutron sources and the shielding design of accelerator facilities. However, appropriate experimental data were scarce in the forward direction for the incident energy higher than 100 MeV. In this study, neutron spectra at 0 degree from thick targets bombarded with 350 MeV protons were measured by the time-of-flight technique using an NE213. The targets used were graphite, Al, Fe and Pb and their thicknesses were chosen to be a little thicker than the stopping lengths. The experiment was carried out at the TOF course of the RCNP (Research Center of Nuclear Physics) ring cyclotron, Osaka University. The flight path length between center of the target and of an NE213 were 11.4 m for the measurement of low energy neutrons and 95 m for high energy neutrons. The experimental data are compared with the calculated results by using the Monte Carlo transport codes, such as MCNPX and PHITS codes.

Evaluation on activation activity of reactor in JRR-2 applied 3 dimensional model to neutron flux calculation

Kishimoto, Katsumi; Arigane, Kenji*

JAERI-Tech 2005-016, 83 Pages, 2005/03

JAERI-Tech-2005-016.pdf:10.52MB

Revaluation to activation activity of reactor evaluated at the notification of dismantling submitted in 1997 was carried out in JRR-2 where decommissioning was advanced now. In the revaluation, estimation accuracy on neutron streaming at various horizontal experimental tubes was improved by applying 3 dimensional model to neutron transport calculation that had been carried out by 2 dimensional model, and calculating with TORT. As the result, excessive overestimations on horizontal experimental tubes and biological shield that had greatly contributed to total activation activity in evaluation at the notification of dismantling was revised, sum of their activation activities in the revaluation decreased to 1/18(case after 1 year from the permanent shutdown of reactor) of evaluation at the notification of dismantling, and the structural materials that had large activation activity were changed. By the above, it was shown that introducing 3 dimensional model was effective in evaluation on activation activity of the research reactor that had a lot of various experimental tubes.

Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop on Dosimetry for External Radiations; November 28-29, 2002, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Tokai, Ibaraki, Japan

Yoshizawa, Michio; Endo, Akira

JAERI-Conf 2003-002, 166 Pages, 2003/03

JAERI-Conf-2003-002.pdf:9.79MB

The present report is Proceedings of the Third Workshop on Dosimetry for External Radiations, held at the Tokai Research Establishment, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), in November 28-29, 2002. The proceedings comprises 16 papers and a summary of general discussion. The Third Workshop, subtitled "On an opportunity of the completion of the facility of calibration standards for neutron at JAERI", focused on neutron dosimetry and included presentations on the status of international neutron standards, the development of calibration techniques of neutron dosimeters using accelerator neutron sources, and dosimetry for high-energy neutrons. The workshop identified the directions for the future research and development in this field.

Fast vector computation of the characteristics method

Kugo, Teruhiko

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 39(3), p.256 - 263, 2002/03

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.39.256

Two vector computation algorithms; an odd-even sweep (OES) method and an independent sequential sweep (ISS) method, have been developed for the characteristics method to solve the neutron transport equation in a heterogeneous geometry. They realize long vector lengths without recursive operations for effective use of vector computers. Their efficiency has been investigated to a realistic fuel assembly calculation. For both methods, a vector computation is 15 times faster than a scalar computation. From a viewpoint of a comparison between the OES and ISS methods, the ISS method is superior to the OES method because the ISS method shows a faster convergence and saves a computer memory without reducing a computation speed.

Fast computation of the characteristics method on vector computers

Kugo, Teruhiko

JAERI-Research 2001-051, 39 Pages, 2001/11

JAERI-Research-2001-051.pdf:2.04MB

Fast computation of the characteristics method to solve the neutron transport equation in a heterogeneous geometry has been studied. Two vector computation algorithms; an odd-even sweep (OES) method and an independent sequential sweep (ISS) method have been developed and their efficiency to a typical fuel assembly calculation has been investigated. For both methods, a vector computation is 15 times faster than a scalar computation. From a viewpoint of comparison between the OES and ISS methods, the ISS method is superior to the OES method because the ISS method shows a faster convergence and saves a computer memory without reducing a computation speed. In the vector computation, a table-look-up method to reduce computation time of an exponential function saves only 20% of a whole computation time. Both the coarse mesh rebalance method and the Aitken acceleration method are effective as acceleration methods for the characteristics method, a combination of them saves 70-80% of outer iterations compared with a free iteration.