Uncertainties in prediction of tritium breeding in candidate blanket designs due to present uncertainties in nuclear data base

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Fusion Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6010106

Youssef, M Z; Abdou, M A

Estimates of the uncertainty ..delta../sub D/ in predicting the achievable tritium breeding ration (TBR) due to the uncertainties in nuclear data base are presented for several fusion blanket concepts. Specifically, the impact of the current uncertainties in measuring basic nuclear data on the calculated TBR is analyzed and discussed for four leading blanket designs that utilize different breeding materials, namely, Li/sub 2/O, 17Li-83Pb, LiAlO/sub 2/, and flibe. The impact on the TBR values of various evaluations for beryllium, which is employed as a multiplier in the latter two blankets, has been studied. Estimates for ..delta../sub D/ in other blanket concepts have also been assessed. Moreover, estimates have been made, based on previous studies, for the contribution to ..delta../sub D/ introduced by using neutron cross-section libraries that have different group structure and weighting spectra. Based on statistically incorporating the present cross-section uncertainties and their correlation in the analysis, the range of the uncertainty in TBR was found to be between 2 and 6% in all the concepts considered. The nonstatistical treatment for cross-section errors tends to give larger values for ..delta../sub D/. The uncertainty in TBR introduced by misrepresenting the secondary energy-angle distribution of the /sup 9/Be(n,2n') cross-section ranges from approx. =4% in the flibe to approx. =2% in the LiAlO/sub 2/ blanket. Uncertainty up to approx. =15% can be encountered in the TBR evaluation in thin blankets with natural /sup 6/Li enrichment if broad-group cross-section libraries are used. However, this uncertainty can be reduced upon using an appropriate weighting spetrum representative of the one found in these blankets type.

• Research Organization: University of California School of Engineering and Applied Science, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Los Angeles, CA 90024
• DOE Contract Number: AA03-76SF00034
• OSTI ID: 6010106
• Journal Information: Fusion Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fusion Technol.; (United States) Vol. 9:2; ISSN FUSTE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700201 -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Blanket Engineering
700205* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Fuel
Heating
& Injection Systems
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BARYON REACTIONS
BARYONS
BERYLLIUM
BERYLLIUM 9
BERYLLIUM ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BREEDING BLANKETS
BREEDING RATIO
CHALCOGENIDES
CONVERSION RATIO
CROSS SECTIONS
DATA COVARIANCES
DESIGN
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
FLIBE
HADRON REACTIONS
HADRONS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LEAD ALLOYS
LEAD BASE ALLOYS
LIGHT NUCLEI
LITHIUM 6
LITHIUM ALLOYS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM ISOTOPES
LITHIUM OXIDES
MATHEMATICS
METALS
MOLTEN SALTS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR DATA COLLECTIONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEON REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SALTS
STABLE ISOTOPES
STATISTICS
TRITIUM
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES