TRU oxide sample reactivity worths measured in the FCA-IX assemblies with systematically changed neutron energy spectra

Fukushima, Masahiro; Okajima, Shigeaki*; Mukaiyama, Takehiko*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 61(4), p.478 - 497, 2024/04

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2240872

A series of integral experiments was conducted to evaluate the fission and the capture cross- sections of transuranic (TRU) nuclides at the fast critical facility FCA of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The experiments were carried out using seven uranium-fueled assemblies of the FCA. The neutron energy spectra of the core regions were adjusted so as to change from an intermediate neutron spectrum to a fast neutron spectrum on an assembly-by-assembly basis. The integral data measured with these experimental configurations provide some neutron energy characteristics: 1) fission rate ratios (FRRs) of Np, Pu, Pu, Am, Am, and Cm relative to Pu by using absolutely calibrated fission chambers, 2) small sample reactivity worths (SRWs) of Np, Pu, Pu, Am, and Am where oxide powders of around 15 to 20 grams were used, 3) criticalities, and 4) spectral indices such as fission rate ratios of U relative to U. In this paper, details of the SRW measurements are reported, and the latest Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library JENDL-5 is tested by using the integral data obtained in systematically varied neutron energy spectra.

Nuclear criticality benchmark analyses on TRIGA-type reactor systems by using continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP with JENDL-5

Yanagisawa, Hiroshi; Umeda, Miki; Motome, Yuiko; Murao, Hiroyuki

JAEA-Technology 2022-030, 80 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Technology-2022-030.pdf:2.57MB
JAEA-Technology-2022-030(errata).pdf:0.11MB

Nuclear criticality benchmark analyses were carried out for TRIGA-type reactor systems in which uranium-zirconium hydride fuel rods are loaded by using the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code MVP with the evaluated nuclear data library JENDL-5. The analyses cover two sorts of benchmark data, the IEU-COMP-THERM-003 and IEU-COMP-THERM-013 in the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook, and effective neutron multiplication factors, reactivity worths for control rods etc. were calculated by JENDL-5 in comparison with those by the previous version of JENDL. As the results, it was confirmed that the effective neutron multiplication factors obtained by JENDL-5 were 0.4 to 0.6% greater than those by JENDL-4.0, and that there were no significant differences in the calculated reactivity worths by between JENDL-5 and JENDL-4.0. Those results are considered to be helpful for the confirmation of calculation accuracy in the analyses on NSRR control rod worths, which are planned in the future.

An Investigation on the control rod homogenization method for next-generation fast reactor cores

Takino, Kazuo; Sugino, Kazuteru; Oki, Shigeo

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 162, p.108454_1 - 108454_7, 2021/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108454

Systematic measurements and analyses for lead void reactivity worth in a plutonium core and two uranium cores with different enrichments

Fukushima, Masahiro; Goda, J.*; Oizumi, Akito; Bounds, J.*; Cutler, T.*; Grove, T.*; Hayes, D.*; Hutchinson, J.*; McKenzie, G.*; McSpaden, A.*; et al.

Nuclear Science and Engineering, 194(2), p.138 - 153, 2020/02

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2019.1663089

To validate lead (Pb) nuclear cross sections, a series of integral experiments to measure lead void reactivity worth was conducted systematically in three fast spectra with different fuel compositions on the Comet critical assembly of the National Criticality Experiments Research Center. Previous experiments in a high-enriched uranium (HEU)/Pb and a low-enriched uranium (LEU)/Pb systems had been performed in 2016 and 2017, respectively. A follow-on experiment in a plutonium (Pu)/Pb system has been completed. The Pu/Pb system was constructed using lead plates and weapons grade plutonium plates that had been used in the Zero Power Physics Reactor (ZPPR) of Argonne National Laboratory until the 1990s. Furthermore, the HEU/Pb system was re-examined on the Comet critical assembly installed newly with a device that can guarantee the gap reproducibility with a higher accuracy and precision, and then the experimental data was re evaluated. Using the lead void reactivity worth measured in these three cores with different fuel compositions, the latest nuclear data libraries, JENDL 4.0 and ENDF/B VIII.0, were tested with the Monte Carlo calculation code MCNP version 6.1. As a result, the calculations by ENDF/B-VIII.0 were confirmed to agree with lead void reactivity worth measured in all the cores. It was furthermore found that the calculations by JENDL 4.0 overestimate by more than 20% for the Pu/Pb core while being in good agreements for the HEU/Pb and LEU/Pb cores.

Introduction and implementation of physical protection measures including trustworthiness program at Tokai Reprocessing Facilities

Nakamura, Hironobu; Kimura, Takashi; Yamazaki, Katsuyuki; Kitao, Takahiko; Tasaki, Takashi; Iida, Toru

Proceedings of International Conference on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities (Internet), 9 Pages, 2018/09

After the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, to develop effective security measures based on the lesson learned from such crisis and to meet the IAEA Nuclear Security Recommendations (INFCIRC/225/Rev.5), NRA in Japan made a partial amendment of the regulations concerning the reprocessing activity in 2012. The Tokai reprocessing facility implemented all of those security measures by the end of March 2014. Those new measures help us to keep high degree of security level and contributed to our planned operations to reduce the potential risk of the plant. On the other hand, the trustworthiness program was newly introduced in 2016, based on the trustworthiness policy determined by NRA. The implementing entity of the program is JAEA for the Tokai Reprocessing Facility and is required for both the persons afford unescorted access to Category I and II, CAS/SAS, and the persons afford access to the sensitive information. Those who are involved this program will be judged before engaging the work whether they might act as insider to cause or assist radiological sabotage or unauthorized removal of nuclear material, or leak sensitive information. The program is expected as a measure against insider at reprocessing facilities, and is expected to be enforced around the autumn of 2017. As well as the establishment of security measures, the promoting nuclear security culture for all employees was a big challenge. The Tokai reprocessing facility have introduced several security culture activities, such as case study education of security events done by a small group and putting up the security culture poster and so on. This paper presents introduction and implementation with effectiveness of security measures in the Tokai reprocessing facilities and the future security measures applied to the reprocessing facilities are discussed.

Lead void reactivity worth in two critical assembly cores with differing uranium enrichments

Fukushima, Masahiro; Goda, J.*; Bounds, J.*; Cutler, T.*; Grove, T.*; Hutchinson, J.*; James, M.*; McKenzie, G.*; Sanchez, R.*; Oizumi, Akito; et al.

Nuclear Science and Engineering, 189, p.93 - 99, 2018/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2017.1373520

To validate lead (Pb) nuclear cross sections, a series of integral experiments to measure lead void reactivity worths was conducted in a high-enriched uranium (HEU)/Pb system and a low enriched uranium (LEU)/Pb system using the Comet Critical Assembly at NCERC. The critical experiments were designed to provide complementary data sets having different sensitivities to scattering cross sections of lead. The larger amount of the U present in the LEU/Pb core increases the neutron importance above 1 MeV compared with the HEU/Pb core. Since removal of lead from the core shifts the neutron spectrum to the higher energy region, positive lead void reactivity worths were observed in the LEU/Pb core while negative values were observed in the HEU/Pb core. Experimental analyses for the lead void reactivity worths were performed with the Monte Carlo calculation code MCNP6.1 together with nuclear data libraries, JENDL 4.0 and ENDF/B VII.1. The calculation values were found to overestimate the experimental ones for the HEU/Pb core while being consistent for the LEU/Pb core.

Validation of the nuclear design code system for the HTTR using the criticality assembly VHTRC

Fujimoto, Nozomu; Nojiri, Naoki; Yamashita, Kiyonobu*

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 233(1-3), p.155 - 162, 2004/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2004.08.005

The HTTR uses low-enriched uranium fuel with burnable poison rod. For validation of the nuclear design code system for the HTTR, a critical assembly of VHTRC had been constructed. The calculation uncertainties of effective multiplication factor, neutron flux distribution, burnable poison reactivity worth, and control rod worth, temperature coefficients were evaluated. Calculation accuracy of a Monte Carlo code is also evaluated.

Effects of volume fraction and non-uniform arrangement of water moderator on reactivity

Cao, X.; Suzaki, Takenori; Kugo, Teruhiko; Mori, Takamasa

JAERI-Tech 2003-069, 36 Pages, 2003/08

JAERI-Tech-2003-069.pdf:3.77MB

From the viewpoint of nuclear criticality safety of fuel rod storage and transport, a series of critical experiments concerning effects of water hole size, water gap width, water-to-fuel volume ratio and non-uniform arrangement of water moderator have been performed at the Tank-type Critical Assembly (TCA) of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. In the present study, the effects of volume fraction and non-uniform arrangement of water moderator on reactivity are evaluated by the water level worth method and analyzed by the SRAC code. Error sources of experiments and calculations are discussed, especially for an energy group model. The calculation results of diffusion model with 17-group model show good agreement with the experiment results within a few dozen cents.

Preliminary analyses for HTTR's start-up physics tests by HTTR nuclear characteristics evaluation code system

Fujimoto, Nozomu; Nojiri, Naoki; Nakano, Masaaki*; Takeuchi, Mitsuo; Fujisaki, Shingo; Yamashita, Kiyonobu

JAERI-Tech 98-021, 66 Pages, 1998/06

JAERI-Tech-98-021.pdf:2.63MB

no abstracts in English

Measurement of reactivity worths of Sm,Cs,Gd,Nd,Rh,Eu,B and Er aqueous solution samples

Komuro, Yuichi; Suzaki, Takenori; ; Sakurai, Kiyoshi; Horiki, Oichiro*

JAERI-Research 97-088, 19 Pages, 1997/11

JAERI-Research-97-088.pdf:0.86MB

no abstracts in English