Obiettivo
Specific Objectives
- To provide experimental neutron data that are required for the detailed study and especially the safety assessment of advanced strategies for the nuclear fuel cycle and related nuclear energy systems.
- To scan the neutron data (measured in JRC projects 59-61) for their importance to nuclear energy applications and to perform further analysis with special focus on their intended application;
- To prepare the data files in the formats required for their application, especially according to the demands of the European nuclear data evaluation projects.
Planned Deliverables
Neutron data measurements are needed for reactor safety, waste minimisation and transmutation and environmental protection. The major customers for this project are the OECD, the JEFF file and Nuclear Industry.
- Organisation of a meeting of the OECD Working Party on Evaluation Co-operation at IRMM (May 2002).
Attendance to the NEA Nuclear Science Committee. Organisation of a new JEFF subgroup on Neutron Data Measurements for a consolidation of experimental activities in Europe and definition of a European high-priority request list. Attendance to the JEFF meetings at the OECD-NEA databank and to the JEFF Scientific Co-ordination group. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Resonance Parameter Compilation
Contribution of resonance parameter information obtained at GELINA to new compilations and ensuring dissemination of results and securing the absorption of data into new databases.
Publication of a new volume of Landolt-Börnstein on neutron data, in collaboration with S. Sukhoruchkin et al.
- V. Avrigeanu (IPNE, Bucharest RO): Cr( N. Janeva and K. Volev INRNE, Sofia BG): Th and Np capture experiments - Collaboration with Candidate Countries: Study contracts with visiting scientists from Candidate Countries for evaluation of experimental data obtained at IRMM: Continuation of the contract of I. Ruskov that started in May 2001. Results will be disseminated as described for JRC project 61.
( Continuation of the contract of V. Semkova (2nd year). Completion in January 2003. Results will be disseminated as described for JRC project 59.
Completion of the contracts of L. Olah and F. Cserpak that started in April
2001. Results will be disseminated as indicated in the description for JRC projects 59, 60 and 61.
G. Vladuca, A. Tudora (Univ. of Bucharest, RO): prompt neutron spectra and multiplicity as well as cross-section calculations for the neutron induced fission of 235U, 239Pu and spontaneous fission of 252Cf
( S. Sudar (University of Debrecen, HU): Ni and Co activation measurements and Zr activation measurements
Support to the n-TOF collaboration
Support to experimental groups of the collaboration as well as to the CERN-EET technical group for the testing and calibration of detectors at IRMM's 150MeV linear accelerator. Transmission measurements at the GELINA TOF facility complementing capture experiments at n-TOF.
Summary of deliverables made by: 31/12/2001
Neutron data measurements are needed for reactor safety, waste minimisation and transmutation and environmental protection. The major customers for this project are the OECD, the JEFF file and Nuclear Industry.
- Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Parties:
Meetings attended by IRMM representatives:
Comité Francais des Données Nucléaires (January 2001)
n-TOF progress meeting in Paris (13 and 14 March, 2001)
OECD-WPEC meeting 12-13 April 2001 in Santa Fe, USA
OECD-JEFF meeting 16-18 May 2001 in Aix-en-Provence
CERN n-TOF collaboration meeting in Paris 15-16 March 2001
HTR-TN steering committee meeting in Paris 26-27 April 2001
OECD-NEA Nuclear Science Committee meeting in Paris 11-13 June 2001
BIPM meeting in Sèvres on 28 and 29 May 2001
n-TOF collaboration board meeting at CERN on 28-29 August 2001
- Resonance Parameter Compilation
Contribution of resonance parameter information obtained at GELINA to new compilations and ensuring dissemination of results and securing the absorption of data into new databases.
In the collaboration with Sukhoruchkin et al, resonance parameters have been sent and the preparation of contributions for a new volume of Landolt- Börnstein started and were also completed. In total 4 contributions were submitted and (n,total) measurements in the resolved resonance range. Professor Vladuca and A. Tudora started their scientific visitor contracts on the 1st August and have presented their achievements on fission cross section and neutron multiplicity calculations on the 20th September in an IRMM seminar. M. Avrigeanu started his scientific visitor contract on the 18th September working on the alpha-particle optical model potential.
Collaboration with Candidate Countries:
The study contract with S. Sudar (University of Debrecen, HU) commenced on the evaluation of Tc and Pb cross sections measured at IRMM and FZ Jülich. Ferenc Cserpak and Laszlo Olah (15 months, Univ. of Debrecen, HU), Ivan Ruskov (15 months, INRNE, Sofia, BG) Natalia Janeva (3 months, INRNE, Sofia, BG), and Sandor Sudar (3 months, U. of Debrecen, HU) started work at IRMM. Preparations have started for three additional scientific visits planned for 2001. A first publication with an ENLARGEMENT collaborator was submitted and that task was completed. The first experimental data were finalised by Valentina Semkova for work done at IRMM.
The measurement of the average capture cross-section of 232Th was analysed in the 5 keV-200keV energy range in collaboration with N. Janeva (INRNE, Sofia, BG) during her stay at IRMM. The collaboration will continue for (n,) and (n, total) measurements in the resolved resonance range. Prof. Vladuca and A. Tudora started their scientific visitor contracts on the 1st August and have presented their achievements on fission cross section and neutron multiplicity calculations on the 20th September in an IRMM seminar. M. Avrigeanu started his scientific visitor contract on the 18th September working on the alpha-particle optical model potential.
- Analysis of Cross Sections of 51V Compilation:
In collaboration with a scientific visitor (V. Avrigeanu), NIPNE, Bucharest the cross sections of 51V in the MeV range have been evaluated using the code STAPRE-H95. Calculations were completed and a draft text made available. Publication was submitted.
- Support to the n-TOF collaboration
Support was provided to test measurements for the collaboration with IreS, Strasbourg and the university of Vienna as well as to the CERN n-TOF group to assist with their commissioning efforts. Support was also provided to CEA-Saclay for the testing of C6D6 detectors at IRMM's 150 MeV linear accelerator. Collaboration agreements were secured with the Vienna groups (IIK and ATI) and the CERN-EET group (Radermacher et al.). A collaboration agreement with CNRS (IReS Strasbourg) also got under way. The experimental set-up at the n-TOF facility was completed and first test experiments started. Support was provided to CERN-EET for calibration measurements at the 150MeV accelerator (further details in P60). A plan of action was formed for the inelastic and (n, xn) measurements that includes further test measurements and the development of a dedicated DAQ system for Ge detectors at n-TOF.
Output Indicators and Impact
Output indicators:
- Experimental (point-wise) data delivered in EXFOR format to the OECD-NEA databank;
- Resonance parameters (obtained by R-matrix fits to the experimental data) delivered to the OECD-NEA databank;
- Evaluated data submitted to JEFF and NNDC;
- Publications in refereed journals;
- Internal reports, JEFF reports, contributions to WPEC;
- PhD theses.
Impact:
- Use of IRMM data in evaluation projects;
- Citation of IRMM experimental work in publications;
- Requests for measurement campaigns at GELINA and the Van de Graaff accelerator;
- Collaborations with external research groups.
Summary of the project
This Project serves to bring the measurement results from JRC Projects 59, 60
and 61 closer to the users of neutron data. It involves improving physics modelling in reactor codes, the optimal use of measured data in evaluated data libraries and applications, dissemination of results and expert knowledge and developing the contacts to stay in touch with actual measurement needs.
Rationale
A sustainable energy supply for the near- and mid-term future in Europe faces the obligatory reduction of the Greenhouse effect and the foreseeable and inevitable limits of fossil fuels. Electricity from Nuclear Energy can be an answer to those questions if safety and environmental issues can be kept under control and to a level accepted by the public. At present already one third of the electricity produced in Western Europe comes from nuclear reactors.
For research and development on improved safety and environmental impact, knowledge about the interaction of neutrons with matter is of fundamental importance. This applies to conventional issues of safety such as structural integrity, increase of reactor life span, use of different fuels, use of higher burn-up, as well as for innovative ideas such as Accelerator Driven Systems, the thorium cycle and transmutation of reactor waste and for areas like medical and material science.
The IRMM's Neutron Physics unit has a unique obligation under the Treaty of Rome for the measurement of neutron data. This requires highly specialised equipment. IRMM hosts a 150MeV electron linear accelerator (GELINA) and a 7 MV Van de Graaff accelerator as well as specifically dedicated laboratories. The GELINA time-of-flight facility has the best energy resolution worldwide. This makes the IRMM the only European laboratory (and one out of 2 or 3 in the world) that is capable of producing these data over an energy range of a few meV to about 20MeV. IRMM has a long-standing expertise in this field and has attained worldwide recognition for producing top-level neutron data measurements. Using its unique role IRMM is facilitating the integration in to the European Research Area of the measurement and evaluation activities in this field in Candidate Countries (CCs) by collaborations funded from a dedicated JRC budget.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsparticle accelerator
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabases
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineering
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsnuclear energy
Invito a presentare proposte
Data not availableMeccanismo di finanziamento
JRC - Joint Research Centre researchCoordinatore
B-2440 Geel
Belgio