Calibration and Monte Carlo Modelling of a fast-UNCL for the IAEA

A campaign of measurements has been carried in the JRC PERLA laboratories in order to calibrate and characterise a fast-UNCL counter recently acquired by the IAEA. Various radionuclide neutron sources (252Cf, 241AmLi), BWR and PWR reference assemblies were used. Furthermore, the counter has been extensively modelled using the Monte Carlo code, MCNP-PTA, which simulates both the neutron transport and the coincidence electronics. The models have been validated using measurements, the results of which agree generally very well with the simulations. The WWER1000 fuel magazine for which there are no representative reference materials for an adequate classical calibration of the counter, has also been modelled using MCNP-PTA. The response of the fast-UNCL to these fuel assemblies has been simulated and numerical calibrations curves were obtained for the above fuel assemblies in various modes (fast and thermal). They are compared to a standard UNCL II from LANL. Preliminary results are given as further work including, sensitivity analysis, model validation for WWER10000 fuel, efficiency optimization for BWR etc. is in progress.

TAGZIRIA Hamid;  BAGI Janos;  PEERANI Paolo;  BELIAN Anthony; 

2013-05-17

ESARDA

JRC67979

978-92-79-18525-0,   

1018-5593,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC67979,