The Cross Section Sensitivity of the Minor Actinides on a Lead-bismuth Cooled Accelerator-Driven Burner System

Abstract

In order to validate the detailed sensitivity of each minor actinide datum in ENDF/B-VI Release 6, JEF-2.2 and JENDL-3.2 on an accelerator-driven minor actinide burner benchmark system, a lead-bismuth cooled sub-critical system was analyzed. The impacts on the system by the ten minor actinides were compared. The kefJ values and reaction rates were calculated by exchanging the data sets of each minor actinide from ENDF/B-VI.6 to JEF-2.2 or JENDL-3.2. At the equilibrium core, the kefJ differences from ENDF/B-VI.6 by the ten minor actinides can cause more than 5,500 pcm for JEF-2.2 and 3,500 pcm for JENDL-3.2. The fission reaction rates of 242mAm and 243Cm with ENDF/B-VI.6 show differences of more than 15% from those with JEF-2.2 and JENDL-3.2. 241 Am, 243 Am and 245Cm in JEF-2.2 and americium isotope data and 245Cm in JENDL-3.2 are sensitive to the fission spectrum.

OECD/NEA Comparison Calculations for an Accelerator-driven System Using Different Nuclear Data Libraries

“…The results of a more comprehensive sensitivity analysis, performed in the meantime using a 2-D model, can be found in Ref. 5. Complementary information can be obtained by comparing the three RIT values for the kerr of the start-up core.…”