Measurements of Neutron Capture Cross Section of 237Np for Fast Neutrons

The neutron capture cross section of ²³⁷Np has been measured for fast neutrons supplied at the center of the core in the Yayoi reactor. The activation method was used for the measurement, in which the amount of the product ²³⁸Np was determined by γ-ray spectroscopy using a Ge detector. The neutron flux at the center of the core calculated by the Monte Carlo simulation code MCNP was renormalized by using the activity of a gold activation foil irradiated simultaneously. The new convention is proposed in this paper to make possible a definite comparison of the integral measurement by the activation method using fast reactor neutrons with differential measurements using accelerator-based neutrons. “Representative neutron energy” is defined in the convention at which the cross section deduced by the activation measurement has a high sensitivity. The capture cross section of ²³⁷Np corresponding to the representative neutron energy was deduced as 0:80 ± 0:04b at 214 ± 9 keV from the measured reaction rate and the energy dependence of the cross section in the nuclear data library ENDF/B-VII.0. The deduced cross section of ²³⁷Np at the representative neutron energy agrees with the evaluated data of ENDF/B-VII.0, but is 15% higher than that of JENDL-3.3 and 13% higher than that of JENDL/AC-2008.     

Emission Probabilities of Gamma Rays from the Decay of 233Pa and 238Np,and the Thermal Neutron Capture Cross Section of 237Np

In order to determine the thermal neutron capture cross section of ²³⁷Np, the relevant γ emission probabilities of the 312-keV γ-ray from the decay of ²³³Pa and the 984-keV γ-ray from the decay of ²³⁸Np are deduced from the ratio of the emission rate to the activity. The emission rate and activity are measured with a Ge detector and a Si detector, respectively. The measured emission probability for 312-keV γ-ray is 41.6±0.9% and that for 984-keV γ-ray is 25.2±0.5%. The emission probabilities are used to correct the thermal neutron capture cross section of ²³⁷Np reported previously, and gives 168±6b. The neutron capture cross section is also determined as 169±6b by α-ray spectroscopic method. The measured emission probabilities and capture cross section are compared with others from references. By averaging these values deduced by different methods, the value of 169±4b is recommended as the thermal neutron capture cross section of ²³⁷Np for 2,200 m/s neutrons.     

Estimation of Covariance Matrices for Nuclear Data of 237Np, 241Am and 243Am

Covariance matrices were estimated for the fission and capture cross sections and the numbers of neutrons per fission of ²³⁷Np, ²⁴¹Am and ²⁴³Am given in JENDL-3.3. GMA and KALMAN codes were applied to estimate them for the fission and capture cross sections, respectively. In the low energy region, the errors of resonance parameters were given. The covariance matrices for the numbers of prompt neutrons per fission (V_p ) were evaluated by assuming a linear equation. For the delayed neutrons (v_d ), only their standard deviations were estimated. The results were compiled in the ENDF-6 format and merged with JENDL-3.3.     

Measurements of gamma-ray emission probabilities of 241, 243Am and 239Np

Gamma-ray emission probabilities of ^{241, 243}Am and ²³⁹Np have been precisely measured with gamma- and alpha-ray spectroscopic methods. The activities of the samples were determined by measuring alpha particles using a Si semiconductor detector. Gamma rays emitted from the samples were measured with a planar type High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. An efficiency curve of the HPGe detector was derived with uncertainties from 0.7% to 2.5% by combining measured efficiencies and Monte Carlo simulation. The gamma-ray emission probabilities for the major gamma rays of these nuclides were determined with uncertainties less than 1.2%.     

Characteristics of Neutron Guide Tubes in Upgraded JRR-3

Abstract

The JRR-3 has been upgraded to be a new high performance research reactor JRR-3M with neutron guide tubes on a large scale and a cold neutron source. The neutron fluxes and spectra were measured at the end of the two thermal and three cold neutron guide tubes. The gain of the cold neutron source is also found from these spectra. The neutron fluxes of thermal neutron guide tubes with characteristic wavelength 2 Å are 1.2x10⁸ n/cm².s at a reactor power of 20 MW. The neutron fluxes of cold guide tubes are 2.0x 10⁸ n/cm².s with characteristic wavelength 4 Å and 1.4x10⁸ n/cm².s with 6 A when the cold neutron source is operated. The neutron spectra measured by the time-of-flight method agree well with their designed ones. The gains of the cold neutron source are 8 for 4 Å and 20 for 6 Å at a reactor power of 20 MW.     

Impact of Partitioning and Transmutation on High-Level Waste Disposal for the Fast Breeder Reactor Fuel Cycle

The impact of partitioning and/or transmutation (PT) technology on high-level waste management was investigated for the equilibrium state of several potential fast breeder reactor (FBR) fuel cycles. Three different fuel cycle scenarios involving PT technology were analyzed: 1) partitioning process only (separation of some fission products), 2) transmutation process only (separation and transmutation of minor actinides), and 3) both partitioning and transmutation processes. The conventional light water reactor (LWR) fuel cycle without PT technology, on which the current repository design is based, was also included for comparison. We focused on the thermal constraints in a geological repository and determined the necessary predisposal storage quantities and time periods (by defining a storage capacity index) for several predefined emplacement configurations through transient thermal analysis. The relation between this storage capacity index and the required repository emplacement area was obtained. We found that the introduction of the FBR fuel cycle without PT can yield a 35% smaller repository per unit electricity generation than the LWR fuel cycle, although the predisposal storage period is prolonged from 50 years for the LWR fuel cycle to 65 years for the FBR fuel cycle without PT. The introduction of the partitioning-only process does not result in a significant reduction of the repository emplacement area from that for the FBR fuel cycle without PT, but the introduction of the transmutation-only process can reduce the emplacement area by a factor of 5 when the storage period is extended from 65 to 95 years. When a coupled partitioning and transmutation system is introduced, the repository emplacement area can be reduced by up to two orders of magnitude by assuming a predisposal storage of 60 years for glass waste and 295 years for calcined waste containing the Sr and Cs fraction. The storage period of 295 years for the calcined waste does not require a large storage capacity because the number of waste packages produced is significantly reduced by a factor of 5 from that of the glass waste package in the FBR fuel cycle without PT.     

启明星1号装置中子通量能谱与中子平均能量计算

启明星1号装置是我国研究ADS次临界中子学的一个快热耦合系统。本文用离散坐标法的程序TWODANT对启明星1号装置能谱进行分析计算。计算结果表明，启明星1号装置具有比较硬的中子能谱，可用以进行有关ADS的研究。     

Measurement of Reactivity Effect and Thermal Neutron Flux in Non-uniformly Distributed Fuel Assemblies

A reactivity effect due to spatial variation of nuclear fuel concentration is an important problem for nuclear criticality safety in a reprocessing plant. As a method theoretically estimating this reactivity effect, the Goertzel's necessary condition is well known. To investigate this theoretical prediction, we have performed systematically a series of measurements of reactivity effect due to nonuniformity in the fuel distribution using a solid moderated core of the Kyoto University Critical Assembly. Thermal neutron flux distributions have been also measured using the activation method with gold wire. A nonuniform assembly was found to have an excess reactivity of 0.2%Δk/k when it had the same uranium mass as the uniform assembly was exactly critical. The fuel concentration of this nonuniform assembly was 40% higher in the center region than the uniform one. Moreover, the spatial distribution of reaction rate of gold wire due to thermal neutrons was flatter in this nonuniform assembly than in the uniform one, as expected by the Goertzel's condition.     

Effects of Non-uniform Moderator Temperature on Core Power Distribution in Accelerator Driven Reactors

In a thermal reactor with moderators at different temperatures, a difference arises in the average speeds of thermalized neutrons between the high temperature part and the low temperature part of the moderator, and the non-uniformity of the average speed of thermalized neutrons may effect changes in the spatial dependence of the thermal neutron flux in a core. To investigate the thermal neutron flux in the case the average speed of thermalized neutrons is dependent on the position within a core, time-dependent two-group diffusion equations were applied. The influence of a nonuniform moderator temperature on the core power distribution was investigated about a graphite-moderated subcritical reactor driven by periodic injections of pulsed fast neutrons. The cylindrical reactor model by which a high temperature part of a core that has a spallation target at the center is enclosed by a low temperature part of a core was used. Changes in the core power distribution were calculated. It turned out that the momentary increases of a thermal power density caused by periodic injections of pulsed fast neutrons increase as the difference in the average speeds of thermalized neutrons in the high temperature part and the low temperature part of a core increases.     

Analysis of Cavity Effect on Space- and Time-Dependent Fast and Thermal Neutron Energy Spectra

The effects of the presence of a central cavity on the space- and time-dependent neutron energy spectra in both thermal and fast neutron systems are analyzed theoretically with use made of the multi-group one-dimensional time-dependent S_n method. The thermal neutron field is also analyzed for the case of a fundamental time eigenvalue problem with the time-dependent P₁ approximation. The cavity radius is variable, and the system radius for graphite is 120 cm and for the other materials 7 cm.

From the analysis of the time-dependent S_n calculations in the non-multiplying systems of polythene, light water and graphite, cavity heating is the dominant effect for the slowing-down spectrum in the initial period following fast neutron burst, and when the slowing-down spectrum comes into the thermal energy region, cavity heating shifts to cavity cooling. In the multiplying system of ²³⁵U, cavity cooling also takes place as the spectrum approaches equilibrium after the fast neutron burst is injected.

The mechanism of cavity cooling is explained analytically for the case of thermal neutron field to illustrate its physical aspects, using the time-dependent P₁ approximation. An example is given for the case of light water.     

Measurement and Analysis of Fission Rate Distributions of 237Np and 238U in a Polyethylene System with a 65 MeV Neutron Source

Fission rates of ²³⁷Np and ²³⁸U in a polyethylene (CH₂) system were measured with a 65MeV quasi monoenergetic neutron source. Relative fission rate distributions dependent on polyethylene thickness up to about 70 cm were obtained for both nuclides with the experimental error within 7%. The present experiment was analyzed by the NMTC/JAERI code that has been employed for designing accelerator-driven transmutation systems. The fission rates of both ²³⁷Np and ²³⁸U calculated by the NMTC/JAERI did not agree with the experimental ones. The C/E values for both were about 2.0 at 71.8cm of polyethylene thickness when both experimental and calculated values were normalized to 1.0 at 0.0 cm of polyethylene thickness. A sensitivity analysis of the NMTC/JAERI was performed by changing cross sections and angular distributions of hydrogen and carbon and by employing three options of the intra-nuclear cascade/evaporation calculation of the NMTC/JAERI. The disagreement of the NMTC/JAERI calculation with the experimental values was partially improved by increasing the nonelastic-scattering cross section of carbon and by broadening the elastic-scattering angular distribution of carbon.     

材料与构件深部应力场及缺陷无损探测中子谱仪热中子导管概念设计

针对中国先进研究堆（CARR）正在建造的材料与构件深部应力场及缺陷无损探测中子谱仪所需的热中子导管,开展模拟计算与概念设计。首先根据CARR内的现场情况和该谱仪的整体要求设计热中子导管的内部截面尺寸为90 mm×160 mm,整体长度为19.7 m,导管长度分为3组;然后根据这些参数开展蒙特卡罗模拟,通过比较导管镀层的特征增殖因数m分别为1、2、3、4、5、6时导管末端的中子强度二维空间分布、水平方向发散角分布、波长分布等主要性能指标的模拟结果,选定m=3,并以此完成了导管的参数设计。     

Optimization of Grooved Thermal Moderator for Pulsed Neutron Source,and Its Characteristics

A grooved moderator having grooves on the neutron emanating surface of the moderator has been proposed for the purpose of increasing the neutron intensity of the pulsed neutron source. Experimental studies on polyethylene grooved moderators are performed, and the effects of the groove, the optimum dimensions and the influence of the reflector on the optimum condition are examined with a view to enhancing the emanating thermal neutron intensity. The pulse shapes of emanating neutrons are also measured and the figures of merit of the grooved moderator are discussed.

The experimental results reveal that the optimum condition is determined by the balance of increase of intensity from the grooves and the decrease from the fins. The optimum dimensions for the moderator with a graphite reflector are as follows. The fin width is less than 1 cm, the fin length 8~10 cm and the fin area about 60% of the emanating surface. These values does not depend strongly on whether the moderator is covered by the reflector or not. This size of grooved moderator increases the emanating neutron intensity by about twice at the neutron energy of 25 meV, as compared with the rectangular shaped moderator of 5 cm thick, although it broadens the pulse width considerably. Analysis of the figures of merit suggests that although the grooved moderator is not useful for the usual neutron scattering experiments, it may be of value in experiments having a resolution which is not. very sensitive to the pulse width.     

Neutronics of Polyethylene Thermal Moderator of Wing and Slab Geometries on Pulsed Neutron Source

Pulse width and intensity of thermal neutrons emitted from a polyethylene moderator on a pulsed neutron source are compared in two geometries of a moderator and target, namely, slab (radial type) and wing geometries (tangential type).

The pulse width for a 10cm thick moderator of the wing geometry, at which thickness saturated beam intensity is achieved, corresponds nearly to that of a 4 cm thick moderator of the slab geometry, although the maximum beam intensity for the wing geometry is some-what less than that of slab geometry. Analysis of figures of merit indicates that the wing geometry can be adopted in scattering experiments which require neutron beams that are not contaminated much by other radiations, even if it causes slight deterioration of neutronic characteristics in comparison with the slab geometry.     

Leach Rates and Thermal Properties of Lead-Iron Phosphate Glass Waste Forms

Lead-iron phosphate (LIP) glasses loaded with a simulated high-level nuclear waste were studied on their leach rates and thermal properties.

The obtained results showed that the phosphate glass matrix consisting of lead monoxide, phosphorus pentoxide and ferric oxide of 56:35:9w/₀ is able to vitrify the waste, pretreated with formic acid to remove Zr, to about 15 w/₀ at 950°C. The leach rate of the vitrified waste glass was in the order of 10^?7 g/cm².d at 110°C, which is low compared with that of the borosilicate glass waste form. Increasing the phosphorus pentoxide content of the matrix to higher than 35% enabled it to produce the glass form with the waste near 20 w/₀ at 950°C, but this increase rendered the glass waste form more soluble than the former. Thermal properties such as thermal expansion coefficient, critical cooling rate for vitrification and temperatures of glass transition, softening and maximum rate of crystallization were measured and discussed.

Removing Na ions from wastes improves considerably both the leach rate and the thermal stability of the LIP glass waste form.     

Beam Hole Configuration and Analysis of Medical Reactor for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

This report presents an investigation of beam holes to be provided in a medical reactor for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. The principal requirement for the beam holes is to deliver the therapeutic doses of thermal and epithermal neutrons in a modest time (30 to 60min) with minimal fast neutron and γ-contaminants. Characteristics of the beam holes have been evaluated by 2-dim. n-γ coupling S _N transport calculations. Reexaminations and revisions of the beam hole design have brought improvements of the characteristics, especially an increase of the thermal neutron flux at the horizontal thermal neutron beam port and a decrease of the fast neutron flux at the vertical epithermal neutron beam port. The design objectives for the beam holes set up in this study may be achievable even if the thermal power of the reactor is reduced from 2 to 1MW.     

Evaluation of Neutron Capture Gamma-Ray Spectra in Hafnium and Tantalum

A method has been developed for evaluation of neutron capture γ-ray spectrum. It couples measured intensities of primary and secondary discrete—-ray with a γ-ray cascade model to calculate the unresolved part of the capture spectrum, and adds the discrete part and the unresolved part to obtain the whole spectrum. The cascade model uses the level density formula proposed by Gilbert & Cameron and the Brink & Axel form of El γ-ray profile function with a modification. This method was applied to thermal neutron capture spectra in six hafnium isotopes and ¹⁸¹Ta and was extended also to non-thermal capture spectra in ¹⁸¹Ta for 0.25 and 0.5 MeV neutrons with empirical assumptions. The calculated results were compared with experiments and agreement was good not only in terms of the gross structure, but also in terms of the fine structure which appears at high and low γ-ray energies.     

γ/快中子图像测量系统闪烁体光输出特性的实验研究

强脉冲辐射场γ/快中子图像测量系统通常使用闪烁体作为源区信号的转换体。闪烁体的光输出和光学成像系统对闪烁光的收光效率是确定系统灵敏度及测量动态范围的关键参数。本文通过研究闪烁体与光敏器件在分离耦合条件下输出信号电流的变化规律,测量了YAG∶Ce³⁺、ST401、EJ200、EJ260和EJ264等5种无机/塑料闪烁体的相对光输出,研究了耦合距离对光学成像系统收光效率的影响。结果表明,实验测量闪烁体的相对光输出在不同耦合距离条件下具有很好的一致性,分离耦合时计算光学成像系统的收光效率需考虑闪烁体光输出各向异性的影响。