Sensitivity Analyses for Polyethylene-Moderated and Polyethylene-Reflected Highly Enriched Uranium Experiments Mixed with Waste Matrix Materials

Journal Article · Sat Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2003 · Nuclear Science and Engineering

OSTI ID:20804835

Loaiza, David J; Sanchez, Rene; Brewer, Roger ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (United States)

Critical experiments are carried out in order to validate, improve, and benchmark the extensive data calculations available. A series of such experiments was performed at the Los Alamos Criticality Experiments Facility. These experiments were performed to provide criticality safety data for waste matrix materials. These critical experiments were fueled with highly enriched uranium, moderated and reflected with polyethylene, and mixed with silicon dioxide (SiO{sub 2}), aluminum (Al), magnesium oxide (MgO), and gadolinium (Gd). The uncertainties affecting the experiment were divided into three broad categories: mass measurement, geometry, and material composition. Each category is considered in turn, and then the total experimental uncertainty is derived. All four experiments had a measured k{sub eff} of 1.001. The sensitivity analyses of these critical experiments yielded uncertainties in the measured k{sub eff} of {+-}0.0026 for SiO{sub 2}, {+-}0.0026 for Al, {+-}0.0021 for MgO, and {+-}0.0029 for Gd. These experiments were judged to be of benchmark quality.

• OSTI ID: 20804835
• Journal Information: Nuclear Science and Engineering, Journal Name: Nuclear Science and Engineering Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 143; ISSN NSENAO; ISSN 0029-5639
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM
BENCHMARKS
CRITICALITY
GADOLINIUM
GEOMETRY
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MATRIX MATERIALS
POLYETHYLENES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SILICA
SILICON OXIDES