ALPHN: A computer program for calculating ([alpha], n) neutron production in canisters of high-level waste
The rate of neutron production from ([alpha], n) reactions in canisters of immobilized high-level waste containing borosilicate glass or glass-ceramic compositions is significant and must be considered when estimating neutron shielding requirements. The personal computer program ALPHA calculates the ([alpha], n) neutron production rate of a canister of vitrified high-level waste. The user supplies the chemical composition of the glass or glass-ceramic and the curies of the alpha-emitting actinides present. The output of the program gives the ([alpha], n) neutron production of each actinide in neutrons per second and the total for the canister. The ([alpha], n) neutron production rates are source terms only; that is, they are production rates within the glass and do not take into account the shielding effect of the glass. For a given glass composition, the user can calculate up to eight cases simultaneously; these cases are based on the same glass composition but contain different quantities of actinides per canister. In a typical application, these cases might represent the same canister of vitrified high-level waste at eight different decay times. Run time for a typical problem containing 20 chemical species, 24 actinides, and 8 decay times was 35 s on an IBM AT personal computer. Results of an example based on an expected canister composition at the Defense Waste Processing Facility are shown.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 7147581
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-12239; ON: DE93003641
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ALPHN. Calculates Neutron Production in Canisters of High-level Waste
Calculates Neutron Production in Canisters of High-level Waste
Related Subjects
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
WASTE FORMS
NEUTRON SOURCES
A CODES
ALPHA REACTIONS
BOROSILICATE GLASS
CONTAINERS
NEUTRONS
RADIOACTIVITY
VITRIFICATION
BARYONS
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
COMPUTER CODES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GLASS
HADRONS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE SOURCES
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
STORAGE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
663440 - D-
T-
& He-induced Reactions & Scattering- (1992-)
663610 - Neutron Physics- (1992-)
990200 - Mathematics & Computers