A New convention for the epithermal neutron spectrum for improving accuracy of resonance integrals

Harada, Hideo; Takayama, Naoki; Komeda, Masao

Journal of Physics Communications (Internet), 4(8), p.085004_1 - 085004_17, 2020/08

https://doi.org/10.1088/2399-6528/aba735

A new convention of epithermal neutron spectrum is formulated for improving accuracy of resonance integrals. The new type function is proposed as an approximating function of epithermal neutron spectrum based on calculations by the state-of-art Monte Carlo code MVP-3. Bias effects on determination of resonance integrals due to utilizing approximating functions of the traditional types and the new type are compared. The other bias effect is also investigated, which is caused by neglecting position dependence of a neutron spectrum inside an irradiation capsule. For demonstrating the bias effects due to these assumptions on neutron spectrum quantitatively in a practical case, the thermal neutron-capture cross section and resonance integral of Cs measured at a research reactor JRR-3 are re-evaluated. A superior property of the proposed new convention is discussed. The experimental method is proposed to determine the new shape factor introduced in the convention by a combinational use of triple flux monitors (Au, Co and Zr), and its analytical methodology is formulated.

Neutron spectrum change with thermal moderator temperature in a compact electron accelerator-driven neutron source and its effects on spectroscopic neutron transmission imaging

Ishikawa, Hirotaku*; Kai, Tetsuya; Sato, Hirotaka*; Kamiyama, Takashi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(2), p.221 - 227, 2019/02

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2018.1561339

Influence of fuel assembly loading pattern and fuel burnups upon leakage neutron flux spectra from light water reactor core (Joint research)

Kojima, Kensuke; Okumura, Keisuke; Kosako, Kazuaki*; Torii, Kazutaka*

JAEA-Research 2015-019, 90 Pages, 2016/01

JAEA-Research-2015-019.pdf:1.95MB

At the decommissioning of light water reactors (LWRs), it is important to evaluate an amount of radioactivity in the ex-core structures such as a reactor containment vessel, radiation shieldings, and so on. It is thought that the leakage neutron spectra in these radioactivation regions, which strongly affect the induced radioactivity, would be changed by different reactor core configurations such as fuel assembly loading pattern and fuel burnups. This study was intended to evaluate these effects. For the purpose, firstly, partial neutron currents on the core surfaces were calculated for some core configurations. Then, the leakage neutron flux spectra in major radioactivation regions were calculated based on the provided currents. Finally, influence of the core configurations upon the neutron flux spectra was evaluated. As a result, it has been found that the influence is small on the spectrum shapes of neutron fluxes. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the facts that intensities of the leakage neutron fluxes are changed by the configurations and that intensities and spectrum shapes of the leakage neutron fluxes are changed depending on the angular direction around the core.

Design of a single moderator-type neutron spectrometer with enhanced energy resolution in energy range from a few to 100 keV

Tanimura, Yoshihiko; Saegusa, Jun; Yoshizawa, Michio; Yoshida, Makoto

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 547(2-3), p.592 - 600, 2005/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2005.03.162

The moderator structure of a neutron spectrometer was optimized with a Monte Carlo code of MCNP-4B. The spectrometer consists of a cylindrical moderator and a position-sensitive thermal neutron detector. It can obtain an energy spectrum from thermal neutron distribution along the cylindrical axis of the moderator. The structure of the moderator was improved by putting a low hydrogen density material in the front of a high hydrogen density one and inserting a neutron absorber which eliminated thermal neutrons diffusing in the moderator. These improvements make energy resolution of the spectrometer better especially for the low energy neutrons from a few tens to 100 keV. The designed spectrometer can be applied to the measurement of energy spectrum over a neutron energy range from a few keV to 20 MeV.

Development of neutron-monitor detector using liquid organic scintillator coupled with Li+ZnS(Ag) sheet

Sato, Tatsuhiko; Endo, Akira; Yamaguchi, Yasuhiro; Takahashi, Fumiaki

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 110(1-4), p.255 - 261, 2004/09

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/nch122

For monitoring of neutron doses in high-energy accelerator facilities, we have developed a neutron-monitor detector applicable to energies from the thermal energy to 100 MeV. The detector is composed of a cylindrical (12.7 cm in diameter and 12.7 cm in length) liquid organic scintillator BC501A covered with Li+ZnS(Ag) sheets. Characteristics of this phoswitch-type detector were studied experimentally in moderated neutron fields of Am-Be and Cf sources, and in quasi-monoenergetic neutron fields of 40 and 70 MeV. It was found from the experiments that the detector is enough sensitive to both thermal and fast neutrons, and has an excellent property of pulse-shape discrimination between them. We concluded, therefore, that the detector can be used for monitoring of neutron doses over a wide energy range from the thermal to 100 MeV.

Evaluations of medium-heavy nuclide data for JENDL-3.3

Shibata, Keiichi; Asami, Tetsuo*; Watanabe, Takashi*; Watanabe, Yukinobu*; Yamamuro, Nobuhiro*; Igashira, Masayuki*; Kitazawa, Hideo*

JAERI-Research 2003-021, 49 Pages, 2003/09

JAERI-Research-2003-021.pdf:2.82MB

Evaluations of neutron nuclear data for medium-heavy nuclides were performed for JENDL-3.3. The present work was undertaken to remove the drawbacks of the previous library JENDL-3.2. Recent measurements and nuclear model calculations were taken into account to improve the accuracy of the evaluated data. The data on natural elements were not produced in order to solve a problem of the inconsistency between elemental and isotopic data except for carbon and vanadium in JENDL-3.3.

Thick target benchmark test for the code used in the design of high intensity proton accelerator project

Meigo, Shinichiro; Harada, Masahide; Takada, Hiroshi

Proceedings of ICANS-XVI, Volume 3, p.1059 - 1067, 2003/07

In the neutronics design for the J-PARC facilities, transport codes of NMTC/JAM, MCNPX and MARS are used. In order to confirm the predict ability for these codes, it is important to compare with the experiment result. For the validation of the source term of neutron, the calculations are compared with the experimental spectrum of neutrons produced from thick target. Although slightly disagreement exists, NMTC/JAM, MCNPX and MARS are in good agreement with the experiment within by a factor of 2.

Dosimetry plan at the first irradiation test in the HTTR

Shibata, Taiju; Kikuchi, Takayuki; Shimakawa, Satoshi

Reactor Dosimetry in the 21st Century, p.211 - 218, 2003/00

The High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) is the first HTGR in Japan with a maximum power of 30 MW. The construction of it was completed successfully in March 2002. The HTTR aims to perform irradiation studies at its very wide irradiation spaces at high temperatures. Although the creep behavior of materials is measured by the large standard size specimens at out-of-pile, small size ones are generally used for in-pile creep tests because of the irradiation capability of reactors. The I-I type irradiation equipment, the first rig for the HTTR, is to be used for the in-pile creep test on a stainless steel with the standard specimens. The rig can give big tensile loads of about 9.8 kN on them. The temperatures of 550 and 600C and the fast neutron fluence of 1.210n/m are the targets of the test. Prior to the in-pile creep test, the in-core irradiation properties at the irradiation region are to be obtained by the rig as the first irradiation test. This paper describes the dosimetry plan at the first irradiation test and the subsequent data assessment procedure.

Evaluation of neutronic irradiation field of improved LEU-core in the JMTR; Comparison of neutron flux and neutron spectrum with previous LEU-core

Nagao, Yoshiharu; Takemoto, Noriyuki; Takeda, Takashi

JAERI-Tech 2001-069, 83 Pages, 2001/10

JAERI-Tech-2001-069.pdf:4.76MB

no abstracts in English

Characterization of neutron field for stainless steel irradiation experiments in JMTR

Shimakawa, Satoshi; Nagao, Yoshiharu; Fujiki, Kazuo

Reactor Dosimetry: Radiation Metrology and Assessment (ASTM STP 1398), p.244 - 251, 2001/00

no abstracts in English