Objective
Specific Objectives:
The objectives listed below comprise the main objectives for 2003. However, many tasks in this action concern experiments of more than one year duration, depending on the accelerator schedule for adequate beam parameters and on the complexity of the data analysis (R-matrix fits, theory, often additional cross- check experiments):
1. To improve the database of microscopic cross-sections for structural materials (EXFOR library);
2. To improve the evaluated databases by state-of-the-art modelling (JEFF library);
3. To obtain measurements of cross-sections for the safe handling and transmutation of radioactive waste, for Accelerator Driven Systems, for the Th- U fuel cycle and for High Temperature Reactors;
4. To contribute to competence-building in nuclear physics with particular emphasis on training of undergraduate, PhD and postdoc fellows at the large- scale facilities of IRMM;
5. To broaden access to GELINA and the Van de Graaff accelerator via dedicated training courses for engineers and nuclear physicists;
6. To collaborate actively with research organisations in Candidate Countries via dedicated training programmes and hosting of scientists;
7. To strengthen the collaboration with Member States in core areas of nuclear research of the European Community Anticipated milestones and schedule Milestones for 2003 are primarily experimental data sent to the OECD-NEA Data Bank and publications in peer-reviewed journals as follows: Publications & data submitted of I-129 & Np-237 total & capture cross sections in agreement with CEA Completion of data analysis on C-14 production on Nitrogen, report on feasibility or publication if feasible. Cross sections for Zr isotopes cross sections, publication and data submitted - Dec 2003 Cr-52, inelastic scattering, publication and data submitted - Dec 2003. Study of tritium production with activation technique; Publication & data submitted - Dec 2003 Feasibility & measurement of (n,ap) cross sections: Publication & submission of data - Dec 2003 Average capture data of Th-232: Publication & submission of data Dec 2003 Pu-240 Doppler broadening: Publication & submission of data - Dec 2003.
Planned Deliverables:
A task is considered completed when data are sent to the NEA databank and when measurement and analysis are adequately described in a publication. These are the final deliverables. Since, tasks typically take more than one year the level of planned progress in 2003 is indicated, as well. Technical deliverables: Total and capture cross-sections for I-129, Np-237, Pb-206 and Rh-103 measured at GELINA, analysis with or at CEA. Mass and total kinetic energy distributions of fission fragments, and neutron multiplicities for U-235(n,f), Pu-239(n,f), Cm-244,248(SF), and Cf-252 (SF). Light charged particle production cross sections with the activation technique for Zr isotopes, Cu-63(n,ap)Fe-59, Cr-52(n,ap)Sc-48, Ni-58(n,t)Co-56 and Cr-50(n,t)V-48 from 14-21 MeV. Cross-sections for the N-14(n,p)C-14 reaction in the 14-20 MeV energy range with the activation technique Measured gamma-ray production, level inelastic and total inelastic cross sections for Cr-52 (finalization FP5), and natural lead; make a start with natural bismuth. Measurements of transmission and capture cross-sections for Th-232 measured at GELINA in the resolved and unresolved resonance region. Start with determination of neutron resonance parameters for Th-232 in the resolved energy region obtained by R-matrix fit, as well as complete the determination of average parameters from the unresolved region.
Complete measurements of neutron induced fission cross sections for Pa- 233, at the VdG, and U-234, at GELINA. Start with measurements for U-236(n,f) at GELINA. Complete data-analysis for Pa-233 and start U-234 analysis. Conduct the analysis of mass and total kinetic energy distributions of fission fragments for the U-234 (n,f) reaction at thermal energies. Total cross-sections at different temperatures and for different sample thicknesses in the energy range 1 eV up to 10 keV for isotopes of Pu-240, start with Pu-242. Contribution to ERA & Enlargement Training/supervision of 3 under-graduate students, 8 PHD-students and 2 post-docs will result in 3 completed undergraduate works and 2 post-doc end reports. All PHD-students will complete studies in 2004 or later. Hosting of about 25 scientists from 7 member states, 4 candidate countries and Russia Collaboration with about 40 scientists from 8 member states, 4 candidate countries and Russia Participation in the preparation of a proposal for an integrated project in the research area of partitioning and transmutation Preparation of a school or workshop to be held in 2004.
Summary of the Action:
This action will produce neutron data needed for assessment of partitioning and transmutation (P&T) strategies and the development of innovative concepts: cross-sections for the transmutation of minor actinides (fission, capture and total) and long-lived fission products (capture and total) fission yield measurements and cross-sections for light charged particle production (LCP) and ternary fission (tritium) for the safe handling, processing and disposal of nuclear waste cross-sections for Pb and Bi for neutron transport calculations in ADS: inelastic, (n,xn), elastic, capture and total cross-sections for the assessment of the integrity of structural components: inelastic cross-sections and, in particular, the (n,xp) and (n,x-alpha) processes in structural materials. Most tasks are carried out in co-operation with universities, national or international research centres, in many cases from Candidate Countries. The activities are used as hands-on training possibilities for young nuclear scientists by providing access to the large-scale nuclear facilities of IRMM.
Rationale:
The attention of the European Community to the disposal and reduction of volume and toxicity of spent reactor fuel has become the stimulus of more sophisticated R&D activities. Independent of any short and mid-term policy in the nuclear energy sector, the issue of nuclear waste will remain a major public concern. It is, furthermore, indispensable to maintain and develop the expertise in nuclear research in order to keep the nuclear option open for future generations. In this context, the Generation IV initiative initiated by the USA also puts new challenges on the EU. Therefore, the strongly decreasing resources in the EU and CC member states for research and education in the nuclear field demand for a concerted action in this field. Important programmes in the field on partitioning and transmutation (P&T) aim at the separation of minor actinides (MA) and long-lived fission products (LLFP), and at reducing the radiotoxicity of the residual waste by irradiation in intense fast neutron fluxes, for example in accelerator-driven systems (ADS), the most likely dedicated transmutation facilities. ADS have hard neutron spectra and use Pb or Pb/Bi as target/coolant/moderator. Feasibility studies for P&T require complete and accurate data files to predict the production of the various MA and LLFP isotopes optimise the effectiveness of the proposed transmutation scenarios assess the safety of these strategies (handling, radiation damage of structural materials). In parallel to the research programme devoted to the P&T of nuclear waste produced in the conventional U-Pu cycle, other initiatives aim at the development of fuel cycle strategies, which avoid the production of long-lived major and minor actinides. The Thorium fuel cycle promises major radio-toxicity and waste handling advantages because the production of major (Pu) and minor (Np and Cm) actinides would be negligible. The detailed feasibility study and safety assessment of this strategy requires the accurate knowledge of neutron data for the major isotopes in the Th fuel cycle (Th-230, 232, Pa-231,233, U-232,233,234,236). Although international databases of experimental and evaluated nuclear reaction data exist, the quality of the available data is not yet satisfactory and the evaluated neutron data files show large discrepancies among each other. IAEA-NDC and OECD-NEA included the above isotopes as first priority to be investigated. Measurements in this programme will concentrate on total, capture and fission cross-section measurements, and on fission fragment yield determinations for those of the above mentioned isotopes for which studies are feasible. Another innovative system which has received increased attention in recent years is the concept of using gas-cooled high-temperature reactors (HTR). It is one of the concepts selected for further study in the Generation-IV initiative. The efforts of the HTR-TN network and the associated indirect actions financed by the Commission resulted in a rapid progress of the design studies.
It is intended to expand on these results in 2003 through IRMM's participation in a Network of Excellence and an Integrated Project on HTR technology. JRC operates unique facilities, such as GELINA at Geel, and dedicated laboratories, such as our Van de Graaff laboratory, and is therefore able to provide the necessary support and independent expertise. Particular emphasis will be given to training of both Member State and Candidate Country scientists and to embed our activities in EU collaborations where a wide range of member states and candidate countries participate. The stringent public demand for safety and environmental protection will benefit from the increased accuracy of the nuclear data.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies nuclear engineering nuclear waste management
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science
- natural sciences physical sciences nuclear physics nuclear fission
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry post-transition metals
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Coordinator
B-2440 Geel
Belgium
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