The OSMOSE program for the qualification of integral cross sections of actinides: Preliminary results in a PWR-UOx spectrum

Conference · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2006

OSTI ID:22039557

Hudelot, J P ^[1]; Klann, R ^[2]; Antony, M; Bernard, D; Fougeras, P ^[1]; Jorion, F; Drin, N; Donnet, L; Leorier, C ^[3]; Zhong, Z ^[2]

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1. CEA Cadarache, DEN/DER, 13108 Saint Paul lez Durance (France)
2. Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439 (United States)
3. CEA VALRHO, DEN/DRCP, BP171, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Ceze Cedex (France)

The need for improved nuclear data for minor actinides has been stressed by various organizations throughout the world - especially for studies relating to plutonium management, waste incineration, transmutation of waste, and Pu burning in future nuclear concepts. Several international programs have indicated a strong desire to obtain accurate integral reaction rate data for improving the major and minor actinides cross sections. Data on major actinides (i.e. {sup 235}U, {sup 236}U, {sup 238}U, {sup 239}Pu, {sup 240}Pu, {sup 241}Pu, {sup 242}Pu and {sup 241}Am) are reasonably well-known and available in the Evaluated Nuclear Data Files (JEFF, JENDL, ENDF-BX However information on the minor actinides (i.e. {sup 232}Th, {sup 233}U, {sup 237}Np, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 242}Am, {sup 243}Am, {sup 243}Cm, {sup 235}Cm, {sup 244}Cm, {sup 245}Cm, {sup 246}Cm and {sup 247}Cm) is less well-known and considered to be relatively poor in some cases, having to rely on model and extrapolation of few data points. In this framework, the ambitious OSMOSE program between the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Electricite de France (EDF) and the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) has been undertaken with the aim of measuring the integral absorption rate parameters of actinides in the MINERVE experimental facility located at the CEA Cadarache Research Center. The OSMOSE Program (Oscillation in Minerve of isotopes in 'Eupraxic' Spectra) includes a complete analytical program associated with the experimental measurement program and aims at understanding and resolving potential discrepancies between calculated and measured values. In the OSMOSE program, the reactivity worth of samples containing separated actinides are measured in different neutron spectra using an oscillation technique with an overall expected accuracy better than 3%. Reactivity effects of less than 10 pcm (0.0001 or approximately 1.5 cents) are measured and compared with calibrations to determine the differential reactivity-worth of the individual samples. The first experimental results were obtained with a very good reproducibility in 2005 and 2006 in the R1-UO{sub 2} core configuration representative of a PWR UOx standard spectrum. The preliminary results of measurements and comparison to calculational models are reported. (authors)

• Research Organization: American Nuclear Society, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 22039557
• Resource Relation: Conference: PHYSOR-2006: American Nuclear Society's Topical Meeting on Reactor Physics - Advances in Nuclear Analysis and Simulation, Vancouver, BC (Canada), 10-14 Sep 2006; Other Information: Country of input: France; 7 refs.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
ABSORPTION
ACCURACY
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM 242
AMERICIUM 243
CALIBRATION
CEA CADARACHE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURIUM 235
CURIUM 243
CURIUM 244
CURIUM 245
CURIUM 246
CURIUM 247
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INTEGRAL CROSS SECTIONS
NEPTUNIUM 237
NEUTRON SPECTRA
NUCLEAR DATA COLLECTIONS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM 241
PLUTONIUM 242
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTION KINETICS
REACTIVITY WORTHS
THEORETICAL DATA
THORIUM 232
URANIUM 233
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 236
URANIUM 238
URANIUM DIOXIDE