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Title: Uncertainty quantification in (α,n) neutron source calculations for an oxide matrix

Abstract

Here we present a methodology to propagate nuclear data covariance information in neutron source calculations from (α,n) reactions. The approach is applied to estimate the uncertainty in the neutron generation rates for uranium oxide fuel types due to uncertainties on 1) 17,18O( α,n) reaction cross sections and 2) uranium and oxygen stopping power cross sections. The procedure to generate reaction cross section covariance information is based on the Bayesian fitting method implemented in the R-matrix SAMMY code. The evaluation methodology uses the Reich-Moore approximation to fit the 17,18O(α,n) reaction cross-sections in order to derive a set of resonance parameters and a related covariance matrix that is then used to calculate the energydependent cross section covariance matrix. The stopping power cross sections and related covariance information for uranium and oxygen were obtained by the fit of stopping power data in the -energy range of 1 keV up to 12 MeV. Cross section perturbation factors based on the covariance information relative to the evaluated 17,18O( α,n) reaction cross sections, as well as uranium and oxygen stopping power cross sections, were used to generate a varied set of nuclear data libraries used in SOURCES4C and ORIGEN for inventory and source term calculations. Themore » set of randomly perturbed output (α,n) source responses, provide the mean values and standard deviations of the calculated responses reflecting the uncertainties in nuclear data used in the calculations. Lastly, the results and related uncertainties are compared with experiment thick target (α,n) yields for uranium oxide.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
OSTI Identifier:
1328282
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1341206
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Progress in Nuclear Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 91; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0149-1970
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; nuclear data; R-matrix theory; covariance data; neutron source

Citation Formats

Pigni, M. T., Croft, S., and Gauld, I. C. Uncertainty quantification in (α,n) neutron source calculations for an oxide matrix. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2016.04.006.
Pigni, M. T., Croft, S., & Gauld, I. C. Uncertainty quantification in (α,n) neutron source calculations for an oxide matrix. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2016.04.006
Pigni, M. T., Croft, S., and Gauld, I. C. 2016. "Uncertainty quantification in (α,n) neutron source calculations for an oxide matrix". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2016.04.006. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1328282.
@article{osti_1328282,
title = {Uncertainty quantification in (α,n) neutron source calculations for an oxide matrix},
author = {Pigni, M. T. and Croft, S. and Gauld, I. C.},
abstractNote = {Here we present a methodology to propagate nuclear data covariance information in neutron source calculations from (α,n) reactions. The approach is applied to estimate the uncertainty in the neutron generation rates for uranium oxide fuel types due to uncertainties on 1) 17,18O( α,n) reaction cross sections and 2) uranium and oxygen stopping power cross sections. The procedure to generate reaction cross section covariance information is based on the Bayesian fitting method implemented in the R-matrix SAMMY code. The evaluation methodology uses the Reich-Moore approximation to fit the 17,18O(α,n) reaction cross-sections in order to derive a set of resonance parameters and a related covariance matrix that is then used to calculate the energydependent cross section covariance matrix. The stopping power cross sections and related covariance information for uranium and oxygen were obtained by the fit of stopping power data in the -energy range of 1 keV up to 12 MeV. Cross section perturbation factors based on the covariance information relative to the evaluated 17,18O( α,n) reaction cross sections, as well as uranium and oxygen stopping power cross sections, were used to generate a varied set of nuclear data libraries used in SOURCES4C and ORIGEN for inventory and source term calculations. The set of randomly perturbed output (α,n) source responses, provide the mean values and standard deviations of the calculated responses reflecting the uncertainties in nuclear data used in the calculations. Lastly, the results and related uncertainties are compared with experiment thick target (α,n) yields for uranium oxide.},
doi = {10.1016/j.pnucene.2016.04.006},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1328282}, journal = {Progress in Nuclear Energy},
issn = {0149-1970},
number = C,
volume = 91,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Cited by: 4 works
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