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Title: Genetic algorithm for nuclear data evaluation applied to subcritical neutron multiplication inference benchmark experiments

Journal Article · · Annals of Nuclear Energy
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An optimization algorithm has been developed for the first time for application to International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) subcritical neutron multiplication inference benchmark experiments. The optimization algorithm is a genetic algorithm for nuclear data evaluation adjustments, specifically applied to subcritical benchmark measurements. The algorithm has been tested and yields improvement in (C-E)/E values of subcritical benchmark observables of interest. In this work, the genetic algorithm is applied to improvement of fission neutron multiplicity distribution parameters using several subcritical neutron multiplication inference benchmarks; specifically a series of reflected 4.5 kg α-phase spherical plutonium benchmarks. The algorithm results suggest changing the mean ($$\bar{v}$$) and standard deviation (σ) of the number of neutrons emitted by 240Pu in spontaneous fission from 2.1510 to 2.1460 and from 1.1510 to 1.1395, respectively. In addition, the standard deviation of the number of neutrons emitted by 239Pu in induced fission should remain unchanged at 1.1400. These changes are all within 1 standard deviation.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001
OSTI ID:
1770220
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1558209
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-18-29992; S0306454919304098; PII: S0306454919304098
Journal Information:
Annals of Nuclear Energy, Journal Name: Annals of Nuclear Energy Vol. 133 Journal Issue: C; ISSN 0306-4549
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 14 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (13)

A hybrid non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm and its application on multi-objective optimal design of nuclear power plant journal February 2017
ENDF/B-VIII.0: The 8 th Major Release of the Nuclear Reaction Data Library with CIELO-project Cross Sections, New Standards and Thermal Scattering Data journal February 2018
Integral Benchmark Data for Nuclear Data Testing Through the ICSBEP & IRPhEP journal April 2014
A new approach to nuclear reactor design optimization using genetic algorithms and regression analysis journal November 2015
Models for a three-parameter analysis of neutron signal correlation measurements for fissile material assay journal November 1986
Validating the performance of correlated fission multiplicity implementation in radiation transport codes with subcritical neutron multiplication benchmark experiments journal October 2018
Genetic-algorithm-based fault detection of the heat transfer process in nuclear-based hydrogen production based ON Cu–Cl cycle journal February 2017
A genetic algorithm for multigroup energy structure search journal July 2017
Novel genetic algorithm for loading pattern optimization based on core physics heuristics journal August 2018
ENDF/B-VII.1 Nuclear Data for Science and Technology: Cross Sections, Covariances, Fission Product Yields and Decay Data journal December 2011
Sensitivity Analysis and Data Assimilation in a Subcritical Plutonium Metal Benchmark journal March 2014
Genetic algorithms for nuclear reactor fuel load and reload optimization problems journal September 2017
Computational Evaluation of Neutron Multiplicity Measurements of Polyethylene-Reflected Plutonium Metal journal February 2014

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Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Integral Experiments
Genetic Algorithm
Subcritical Benchmark
Nuclear Data Evaluation