Methodology and analysis for effects of energy and angular distributions of secondary neutrons in fusion blankets and application to integral beryllium experiments

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6308345

Song, P M

The main objective of the US/JAERI (Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute) collaborative experiment program on Fusion Breeder Neutronics is to estimate the uncertainties involved in predicting the TBR in Li{sub 2}O. Beryllium has been used as a neutron multiplier in several experiments performed in that program. The shape of the C/E values (calculation/experiment) for the tritium production rate (TPR) from {sup 6}Li, T{sub 6} observed in these experiments indicate that there is underestimation in T{sub 6} just behind the Be layer. This feature could be related to the Be cross-sections, especially in secondary energy (SED) and angular distribution (SAD) of emitted neutrons from reaction. These SED and SAD of the {sup 9}Be(n,2n) cross-sections are subject to large uncertainties because of inadequate representation of the energy/angle distribution of the emitted neutrons. To access the uncertainty in predicting TPR that results from the current uncertainties in the cross-section data and SED/SAD of emitted neutrons, an extensive two-dimensional sensitivity/uncertainty analysis was performed with the current FORSS module, and new codes, JULIX, VARIX, and UNGSS which were specifically developed to incorporate the new methodology of the present work in treating SED/SAD sensitivity analyses. When analyses were performed, it was found that the local standard deviation in T{sub 6} is 2.1 to 9.3% in the integrated cross-section, 5.2 to 11.2% in the SED (direct variation with the ENDF/BLANL), and 0.14% to 1.37% in the SAD, respectively, with largest uncertainties occurring inside the beryllium layer. The uncertainty in T{sub 6} is mainly attributed to the current uncertainties in {sup 9}Be(n,elastic), {sup 16}O and {sup 7} Li data.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6308345
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700201* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Blanket Engineering
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
BARYON REACTIONS
BERYLLIUM
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BREEDING BLANKETS
BREEDING RATIO
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPUTER CODES
CONVERSION RATIO
DATA ANALYSIS
DESIGN
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
HADRON REACTIONS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
LITHIUM 6
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM ISOTOPES
LITHIUM OXIDES
METALS
NEUTRAL-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRON TRANSPORT
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEON REACTIONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
STABLE ISOTOPES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TRITIUM
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES