Nuclear Data for Fusion Energy Technologies: Requests, Status and Development Needs

Abstract

The current status of nuclear data evaluations for fusion technologies is reviewed. Well-qualified data are available for neutronics and activation calculations of fusion power reactors and the next-step device ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. Major challenges for the further development of fusion nuclear data arise from the needs of the long-term fusion programme. In particular, co-variance data are required for uncertainty assessments of nuclear responses. Further, the nuclear data libraries need to be extended to higher energies above 20 MeV to enable neutronics and activation calculations of IFMIF, the International Fusion Material Irradiation Facility. A significant experimental effort is required in this field to provide a reliable and sound database for the evaluation of cross-section data in the higher energy range.

Benchmark analysis of fission-rate distributions in a series of spherical depleted-uranium assemblies for hybrid-reactor design

“…The fusion-reactor core generates 14-MeV neutrons by the D-T fusion reaction, and the sub-critical blanket is designed to be fueled with natural uranium or spent fuel generated by PWRs (Pressurized Water Reactors) in the form of a U/Zr alloy, while light water is proposed as a coolant . Integrated experiments and analyses are required (Fischer et al, 2005;Sawan et al, 2010) to benchmark the nuclear data involved in the design calculation. As one of the key elements in the fission blanket, uranium has attracted special concern.…”