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141 results on '"Méplan, O."'

1. Searching for Hidden Neutrons with a Reactor Neutrino Experiment: Constraints from the STEREO Experiment

Author

Almazán, H., Bernard, L., Blanchet, A., Bonhomme, A., Buck, C., Sanchez, P. del Amo, Atmani, I. El, Labit, L., Lamblin, J., Letourneau, A., Lhuillier, D., Licciardi, M., Lindner, M., Materna, T., Méplan, O., Pessard, H., Pignol, G., Réal, J. -S., Ricol, J. -S., Roca, C., Rogly, R., Salagnac, T., Sarrazin, M., Savu, V., Schoppmann, S., Soldner, T., Stutz, A., and Vialat, M.

Subjects
High Energy Physics - Experiment, Nuclear Experiment
Abstract

Different extensions of the standard model of particle physics, such as braneworld or mirror matter models, predict the existence of a neutron sterile state, possibly as a dark matter candidate. This Letter reports a new experimental constraint on the probability $p$ for neutron conversion into a hidden neutron, set by the STEREO experiment at the high flux reactor of the Institut Laue-Langevin. The limit is $p<3.1\times 10^{-11}$ at $95 \%$ C.L. improving the previous limit by a factor 13. This result demonstrates that short-baseline neutrino experiments can be used as competitive passing-through-walls neutron experiments to search for hidden neutrons., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

Published
2021
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2. Probing neutron-hidden neutron transitions with the MURMUR experiment

Author

Stasser, C., Terwagne, G., Lamblin, J., Méplan, O., Pignol, G., Coupé, B., Kalcheva, S., Van Dyck, S., and Sarrazin, M.

Subjects
Nuclear Experiment, High Energy Physics - Experiment, High Energy Physics - Phenomenology, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Abstract

MURMUR is a new passing-through-walls neutron experiment designed to constrain neutron/hidden neutron transitions allowed in the context of braneworld scenarios or mirror matter models. A nuclear reactor can act as a hidden neutron source, such that neutrons travel through a hidden world or sector. Hidden neutrons can propagate out of the nuclear core and far beyond the biological shielding. However, hidden neutrons can weakly interact with usual matter, making possible for their detection in the context of low-noise measurements. In the present work, the novelty rests on a better background discrimination and the use of a mass of a material - here lead - able to enhance regeneration of hidden neutrons into visible ones to improve detection. The input of this new setup is studied using both modelizations and experiments, thanks to tests currently performed with the experiment at the BR2 research nuclear reactor (SCK$\cdot$CEN, Mol, Belgium). A new limit on the neutron swapping probability p has been derived thanks to the measurements taken during the BR2 Cycle 02/2019A: $p < 4.0 \ \times 10^{-10}$ at 95% CL. This constraint is better than the bound from the previous passing-through-wall neutron experiment made at ILL in 2015, despite BR2 is less efficient to generate hidden neutrons by a factor 7.4, thus raising the interest of such experiment using regenerating materials., Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, final version, accepted for publication in European Physical Journal C

Published
2020
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4. The STEREO Experiment

Author

Allemandou, N., Almazán, H., Sanchez, P. del Amo, Bernard, L., Bernard, C., Blanchet, A., Bonhomme, A., Bosson, G., Bourrion, O., Bouvier, J., Buck, C., Caillot, V., Chala, M., Champion, P., Charon, P., Collin, A., Contrepois, P., Coulloux, G., Desbrières, B., Deleglise, G., Kanawati, W. El, Favier, J., Fuard, S., Monteiro, I. Gomes, Gramlich, B., Haser, J., Helaine, V., Heusch, M., Jentschel, M., Kandzia, F., Konrad, G., Köster, U., Kox, S., Lahonde-Hamdoun, C., Lamblin, J., Letourneau, A., Lhuillier, D., Li, C., Lindner, M., Manzanillas, L., Materna, T., Méplan, O., Minotti, A., Monon, C., Montanet, F., Nunio, F., Peltier, F., Penichot, Y., Pequignot, M., Pessard, H., Piret, Y., Prono, G., Quéméner, G., Real, J. -S., Roca, C., Salagnac, T., Sergeyeva, V., Schoppmann, S., Scola, L., Scordilis, J. -P., Soldner, T., Stutz, A., Tourres, D., Vescovi, C., and Zsoldos, S.

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, High Energy Physics - Experiment
Abstract

The STEREO experiment is a very short baseline reactor antineutrino experiment aiming at testing the hypothesis of light sterile neutrinos as an explanation of the deficit of the observed neutrino interaction rate with respect to the predicted rate, known as the Reactor Antineutrino Anomaly. The detector center is located 10 m away from the compact, highly $^{235}$U enriched core of the research nuclear reactor of the Institut Laue Langevin in Grenoble, France. This paper describes the STEREO site, the detector components and associated shielding designed to suppress the external sources of background which were characterized on site. It reports the performances in terms of detector response and energy reconstruction., Comment: 32 pages, 17 figures

Published
2018
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5. Development of a gas filled magnet for FIPPS phase II

Author

Kim, Y.H., Thomas, M., Faust, H., Michelagnoli, C., Köster, U., Kandzia, F., Jentschel, M., Ruiz-Martinez, E., Mutti, P., Lelièvre-Berna, E., Schwab, H., Froidefond, E., Kessedjian, G., Meplan, O., Simpson, G., Chebboubi, A., and Materna, T.

Published
2020
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6. New measurement of the 235U(nth,f) fission yields and development of a Time of Flight line at the LOHENGRIN spectrometer

Author

Houdouin-Quenault M., Sage C., Méplan O., Ramdhane M., Dauvergne D., Gallin-Martel M.L., Muraz J.F., Guillaudin O., Marcatili S., Kessedjian G., Chebboubi A., Serot O., Litaize O., Bernard D., Köster U., Kim Y.H., Mutti P., and Smith A.G.

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

The study of nuclear fission yields has a major impact on the characterization and understanding of the fission process and is mandatory for reactor applications. In the framework of a collaboration between the CEA, the LPSC and the ILL, a program of actinide fission yield measurements has been ongoing for several years at the LOHENGRIN spectrometer. However, the measurement of very low fission yields in the symmetry region and the heavy wing of the distributions is difficult to achieve due to the strong contamination by other masses with much higher yields and requires the development of a new experimental setup. This paper will first present the results of a new absolute measurement of the 235U(nth,f) mass yields using an ionization chamber placed at the exit of the spectrometer. Although very well documented in the literature, these yields show uncertainties lying from 3% to 10% with large discrepancies between libraries and a lack of correlation matrices. New experimental data obtained at the LOHENGRIN spectrometer will be detailed, along with the measurement method and the production of the experimental covariance matrix. The second part will show the development of a Time of Flight (ToF) line in order to improve the background rejection in the mass yield measurements. In the symmetry region, the precision of the measurement is limited by the background estimation due to the charge exchanges with the residual gas of the separator. We plan to analyze the events using a triple coincidence (∆E x E) x ToF, whereas today only (∆E x E) selection is available. The new ToF line is built using Si3N4 foils and secondary electron detectors (SED) for the start and stop detectors. We will present the choices made for the SED technology along with the progress achieved on the ToF line characterization.

Published
2023
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8. The Thorium Molten Salt Reactor : Moving on from the MSBR

Author

Mathieu, L., Heuer, D., Brissot, R., Brun, C. Le, Liatard, E., Loiseaux, J. M., Méplan, O., Merle-Lucotte, E., Nuttin, A., Wilson, J., Garzenne, C., Lecarpentier, D., Walle, E., and Collaboration, the GEDEPEON

Subjects
Nuclear Experiment
Abstract

A re-evaluation of the Molten Salt Breeder Reactor concept has revealed problems related to its safety and to the complexity of the reprocessing considered. A reflection is carried out anew in view of finding innovative solutions leading to the Thorium Molten Salt Reactor concept. Several main constraints are established and serve as guides to parametric evaluations. These then give an understanding of the influence of important core parameters on the reactor's operation. The aim of this paper is to discuss this vast research domain and to single out the Molten Salt Reactor configurations that deserve further evaluation., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 6 tables

Published
2005
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9. Precise validation of neutron cross section data bases using a lead slowing down spectrometer and simulation from 0.1 eV to 40 keV. Methodology and data on thin and thick targets and data bases adjustement

Author

Perrot, L., Billebaud, A., Brissot, R., Giorni, A., Heuer, D., Loiseaux, J. -M., Meplan, O., and Viano, J. -B.

Subjects
Nuclear Experiment
Abstract

Research on accelerator driven systems (ADS), related new fuels and their ability for nuclear waste incineration has led to a revival of interest in nuclear cross sections of many nuclides over a large energy range. Discrepancies observed between nuclear data bases require new measurements in several cases. A complete measurement of such cross sections including resonance resolution consists of an extensive beam time experiment associated to a long process of analysis ans validation. With a slowing down spectrometer associated to a pulsed neutron source, it is possible to determine good cross section profile in an energy range from 0.1 eV to 40 keV. These measurements performed at ISN (Grenoble) with neutron source GENEPI requires only small quantities of matter (as small as 0.1 g) and about one day of beam per target., Comment: 0 pages, 6 tables, to submit in NIM-A

Published
2002

14. Fission fragments observables measured at the LOHENGRIN spectrometer

Author

Julien-Laferrière S., Thombansen L., Kessedjian G., Chebboubi A., Serot O., Sage C., Méplan O., Ramdhane M., Litaize O., Nicholson J., Bernard D., Köster U., Mutti P., Materna T., and Rapala M.

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

Nuclear fission yields are key data for reactor studies, such as spent fuel inventory or decay heat, and for understanding fission process. Despite a significant effort allocated to measure fission yields during the last decades, the recent evaluated libraries still need improvements in particular in the reduction of the uncertainties. Moreover, some discrepancies between these libraries must be explained. Additional measurements provide complementary information and estimations of experimental correlations, and new kinds of measurements enable to test the models used during the nuclear data evaluation process. A common effort by the CEA, the LPSC and the ILL aims at tackling these issues by providing precise measurements of isotopic and isobaric fission yields with the related variance-covariance matrices. Additionally, the experimental program involves a large range of observables requested by the evaluations, such as kinetic energy dependency of isotopic yields and odd-even effect in order to test the sharing of total excitation energy and the spin generation mechanism. Another example is the complete range of isotopic distribution per mass that allows the determination of the charge polarization, which has to be consistent for complementary masses (pre-neutron emission). For instance, this information is the key observable for the evaluation of isotopic yields. Finally, ionic charge distributions are indirect measurements of nanosecond isomeric ratios as a probe of the nuclear de-excitation path in the (E*, J, π) representation. Measurements for thermal neutron induced fission of 241 Pu have been carried out at the ILL in Grenoble, using the LOHENGRIN mass spectrometer. Methods, results and comparison to models calculations will be presented corresponding to a status on fission fragments observables reachable with this facility.

Published
2020
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15. Measurements of Fission Products Yields with the LOHENGRIN mass spectrometer at ILL

Author

Chebboubi A., Julien-Laferrière S., Nicholson J., Kessedjian G., Serot O., Blanc A., Bernard D., Faust H., Kim Y.H., Köster U., Letourneau A., Litaize O., Méplan O., Mutti P., Rapala M., Ramdhane M., and Sage C.

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

The CEA in collaboration with ILL and LPSC has developed a measurement program on symmetric and heavy mass fission product distributions. The combination of measurements with ionisation chamber and Ge detectors is necessary to describe precisely the heavy fission product region in mass and charge. Recently, new measurements of fission yields and kinetic energy distributions, for different fissioning systems (233,235 U(nth, f),241 Am(2nth, f) and 239,241 Pu(nth, f), were performed with recoil spectrometer LOHENGRIN. The focus has been done on the self-normalization of the data to provide new absolute measurements, independently of any libraries along with the experimental covariance matrix. To reach precise measurements, a new experimental procedure was developed along with a new analysis method.

Published
2020
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16. New measurement of the 235U(nth,f) fission yields and development of a Time of Flight line at the LOHENGRIN spectrometer.

Author

Houdouin-Quenault, M., Sage, C., Méplan, O., Ramdhane, M., Dauvergne, D., Gallin-Martel, M.L., Muraz, J.F., Guillaudin, O., Marcatili, S., Kessedjian, G., Chebboubi, A., Serot, O., Litaize, O., Bernard, D., Köster, U., Kim, Y.H., Mutti, P., and Smith, A.G.

Subjects
NUCLEAR fission, TIME-of-flight spectrometers, NUCLEAR reactors, ACTINIDE elements, COVARIANCE matrices
Abstract

The study of nuclear fission yields has a major impact on the characterization and understanding of the fission process and is mandatory for reactor applications. In the framework of a collaboration between the CEA, the LPSC and the ILL, a program of actinide fission yield measurements has been ongoing for several years at the LOHENGRIN spectrometer. However, the measurement of very low fission yields in the symmetry region and the heavy wing of the distributions is difficult to achieve due to the strong contamination by other masses with much higher yields and requires the development of a new experimental setup. This paper will first present the results of a new absolute measurement of the 235U(nth,f) mass yields using an ionization chamber placed at the exit of the spectrometer. Although very well documented in the literature, these yields show uncertainties lying from 3% to 10% with large discrepancies between libraries and a lack of correlation matrices. New experimental data obtained at the LOHENGRIN spectrometer will be detailed, along with the measurement method and the production of the experimental covariance matrix. The second part will show the development of a Time of Flight (ToF) line in order to improve the background rejection in the mass yield measurements. In the symmetry region, the precision of the measurement is limited by the background estimation due to the charge exchanges with the residual gas of the separator. We plan to analyze the events using a triple coincidence (∆E x E) x ToF, whereas today only (∆E x E) selection is available. The new ToF line is built using Si3N4 foils and secondary electron detectors (SED) for the start and stop detectors. We will present the choices made for the SED technology along with the progress achieved on the ToF line characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2023
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17. Status of fission fragment observables measured with the LOHENGRIN spectrometer

Author

Julien-Laferrière S., Thombansen L., Kessedjian G., Chebboubi A., Serot O., Sage C., Méplan O., Ramdhane M., Litaize O., Bernard D., Nicholson J., Blanc A., Faust H., Mutti P., Köster U., Letourneau A., Materna T., and Rapala M.

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

Nuclear fission yields are key parameters to evaluate reactor physics observables, such as fuel inventory, decay heat, spent fuel radiotoxicity, criticality but also for understanding the fission process. Despite a significant effort allocated to measure fission yields during the last decades, the recent evaluated libraries still need improvements in particular in the description of the uncertainties with the associated correlations. Additional kinds of measurements provide complementary information in order to test the models used in the nuclear data evaluation. Moreover, some discrepancies between these libraries must be explained. A common effort by the CEA, the LPSC and the ILL aims at tackling these issues by providing precise measurement of isotopic and isobaric fission yields with the related variance-covariance matrices. Nevertheless, the experimental program represents itself a large range of observables requested by the evaluations: isotopic yields, nuclear charge polarization, odd-even effect, isomeric ratio and their dependency with fission fragment kinetic energy as a probe of the nuclear de-excitation path in the (E*, Jπ) representation. Measurements for thermal neutron induced fission of 241Pu have been carried out at the Institut Laue Langevin using the LOHENGRIN mass spectrometer. Experimental program, observables reachable, results and comparison to model calculations are shown.

Published
2019
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19. The CANDELLE experiment for characterization of neutron sensitivity of LiF TLDs

Author

Guillou M.Le, Billebaud A., Gruel A., Kessedjian G., Méplan O., Destouches C., and Blaise P.

Subjects
nuclear heating, thermoluminescent dosimeters, neutron sensitivity, Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

As part of the design studies conducted at CEA for future power and research nuclear reactors, the validation of neutron and photon calculation schemes related to nuclear heating prediction are strongly dependent on the implementation of nuclear heating measurements. Such measurements are usually performed in low-power reactors, whose core dimensions are accurately known and where irradiation conditions (power, flux and temperature) are entirely controlled. Due to the very low operating power of such reactors (of the order of 100 W), nuclear heating is assessed by using dosimetry techniques such as thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). However, although they are highly sensitive to gamma radiation, such dosimeters are also, to a lesser extent, sensitive to neutrons. The neutron dose depends strongly on the TLD composition, typically contributing to 10-30% of the total measured dose in a mixed neutron/gamma field. The experimental determination of the neutron correction appears therefore to be crucial to a better interpretation of doses measured in reactor with reduced uncertainties. A promising approach based on the use of two types of LiF TLDs respectively enriched with lithium-6 and lithium-7, precalibrated both in photon and neutron fields, has been recently developed at INFN (Milan, Italy) for medical purposes. The CANDELLE experiment is dedicated to the implementation of a pure neutron field “calibration” of TLDs by using the GENEPI-2 neutron source of LPSC (Grenoble, France). Those irradiation conditions allowed providing an early assessment of the neutron components of doses measured in EOLE reactor at CEA Cadarache with 10% uncertainty at 1σ.

Published
2018
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20. Searching for Hidden Neutrons with a Reactor Neutrino Experiment: Constraints from the STEREO Experiment

Author

Almazán, H., primary, Bernard, L., additional, Blanchet, A., additional, Bonhomme, A., additional, Buck, C., additional, del Amo Sanchez, P., additional, El Atmani, I., additional, Labit, L., additional, Lamblin, J., additional, Letourneau, A., additional, Lhuillier, D., additional, Licciardi, M., additional, Lindner, M., additional, Materna, T., additional, Méplan, O., additional, Pessard, H., additional, Pignol, G., additional, Réal, J.-S., additional, Ricol, J.-S., additional, Roca, C., additional, Rogly, R., additional, Salagnac, T., additional, Sarrazin, M., additional, Savu, V., additional, Schoppmann, S., additional, Soldner, T., additional, Stutz, A., additional, and Vialat, M., additional

Published
2022
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21. Measurements of $$^{233}$$U$$(\text {n}_{\text {th}},\text {f})$$ fission product mass yields with the LOHENGRIN recoil mass spectrometer

Author

Chebboubi, A., primary, Kessedjian, G., additional, Serot, O., additional, Faust, H., additional, Köster, U., additional, Litaize, O., additional, Sage, C., additional, Blanc, A., additional, Bernard, D., additional, Letourneau, A., additional, Materna, T., additional, Méplan, O., additional, Mutti, P., additional, Rapala, M., additional, and Ramdhane, M., additional

Published
2021
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23. Measurements of $^{233}$U$(\text {n}_{\text {th}},\text {f})$ fission product mass yields with the LOHENGRIN recoil mass spectrometer

Author

Chebboubi, A., Kessedjian, G., Serot, O., Faust, H., Köster, U., Litaize, O., Sage, C., Blanc, A., Bernard, D., Letourneau, A., Materna, T., Méplan, O., Mutti, P., Rapala, M., Ramdhane, M., CEA Cadarache, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP ), Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), ILL, Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (IRFU), and Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris-Saclay

Subjects
Nuclear and High Energy Physics, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, 0103 physical sciences, [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], 010306 general physics, Nuclear Experiment, 01 natural sciences, 7. Clean energy
Abstract

International audience; Numerous measurements of fission product yields were performed since the discovery of the nuclear fission process. However, more precise and reliable fission product yields are requested. Lack of covariance matrices make difficult to use it for specific application purposes such as the propagation uncertainty of decay heat. In this work, we propose to measure independently the fission product mass yields for the whole heavy peak (including the symmetric mass region) for the $^{233}$U$(\text {n}_{\text {th}},\text {f})$ reaction. Both average values and experimental covariance is provided. The fission product mass yields are measured with the LOHENGRIN recoil mass spectrometer of the ILL using an ionization chamber located at the focal plane. A new procedure of data taking has been developed in order to minimize the biases. Concretely several ionic charges and kinetic energy distributions have been measured for each mass. Particular attention has been considered in the monitoring of the target time evolution. Additional corrections were necessary in the symmetry mass region due to contaminants coming from the LOHENGRIN recoil mass spectrometer. A complex Monte Carlo analysis has been developed in order to better propagate all the uncertainties. The fission product mass yields of the $^{233}$U$(\text {n}_{\text {th}},\text {f})$ and its associated covariance matrix has been produced. An overall good agreement has been observed with ENDF/B-VIII.0 in contrast with the JEFF-3.3 evaluation. A precision around 2% for the heavy peak has been measured. The experimental covariance matrix was also computed. In the symmetry mass region, two components were observed in the kinetic energy distribution. One of this component was considered as an artifact and was ruled-out.

Published
2021

24. Investigation of fission product isomeric ratios and angular momenta of 132Sn populated in the 241Pu(nth,f) reaction

Author

Nicholson, J., Chebboubi, A., Serot, O., Kessedjian, G., Kim, Y.H., Köster, U., Litaize, O., Méplan, O., Sage, C., Ramdhane, M., CEA Cadarache, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP ), Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), and Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL)

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999, Physics::Atomic and Molecular Clusters, [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], Nuclear Experiment
Abstract

During an experimental campaign performed at the LOHENGRIN recoil spectrometer of the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), a kinetic energy dependence of 132Sn fission product isomeric ratio (IR) has been measured by inducing thermal fission of 241Pu. The IRs are deduced using gamma ray spectrometry in coincidence with the ionisation chamber. To interpret these data, we use the FIFRELIN Monte-Carlo code to simulate the de-excitation of the fission fragments. Combining the IRs with the FIFRELIN calculations, the angular momentum distribution with kinetic energy of the doubly magic nucleus of 132Sn was deduced. This will be compared with the angular momentum distribution obtained for the reaction 235U(nth,f) for 132Sn.

Published
2021

25. Isomeric ratio measurements with the ILL LOHENGRIN spectrometer

Author

Chebboubi A., Kessedjian G., Litaize O., Serot O., Faust H., Bernard D., Blanc A., Köster U., Méplan O., Mutti P., and Sage C.

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

The modelling of γ heating and neutron damage inside a nuclear reactor is essential to design the next generation of nuclear reactors. The determination of the fission fragment momentum is a key element to perform accurate calculations of the γ heating. One way to assess this information is to look at the isomeric ratio of different nuclei. According to the lifetime of the isomeric state, different experimental techniques were developed at the LOHENGRIN spectrometer. A focus on the measurement of isomeric ratios of 136I in neutron induced fission of 241Pu is presented. A discussion with the current assumptions used in the evaluation process for isomeric ratio is also shown.

Published
2016
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32. Minimization of actinide waste by multi-recycling of thoriated fuels in the EPR reactor

Author

Nuttin A., Siem S., Ivanov E., Méplan O., David S., Guillemin P., Wilson J.N., Capellan N., and Rose S.J.

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

The multi-recycling of innovative uranium/thorium oxide fuels for use in the European Pressurized water Reactor (EPR) has been investigated. If increasing quantities of 238U, the fertile isotope in standard UO2 fuel, are replaced by 232Th, then a greater yield of new fissile material (233U) is produced during the cycle than would otherwise be the case. This leads to economies of natural uranium of around 45% if the uranium in the spent fuel is multi-recycled. In addition we show that minor actinide and plutonium waste inventories are reduced and hence waste radio-toxicities and decay heats are up to a factor of 20 lower after 103 years. Two innovative fuel types named S90 and S20, ThO2 mixed with 90% and 20% enriched UO2 respectively, are compared as an alternative to standard uranium oxide (UOX) and uranium/plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuels at the longest EPR fuel discharge burn-ups of 65 GWd/t. Fissile and waste inventories are examined, waste radio-toxicities and decay heats are extracted and safety feedback coefficients are calculated.

Published
2012
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33. Measurements of Fission Products Yields with the LOHENGRIN mass spectrometer at ILL.

Author

Kawano, T., Chebboubi, A., Julien-Laferrière, S., Nicholson, J., Kessedjian, G., Serot, O., Blanc, A., Bernard, D., Faust, H., Kim, Y.H., Köster, U., Letourneau, A., Litaize, O., Méplan, O., Mutti, P., Rapala, M., Ramdhane, M., and Sage, C.

Subjects
FISSION products, MASS spectrometers, KINETIC energy, COVARIANCE matrices, GERMANIUM
Abstract

The CEA in collaboration with ILL and LPSC has developed a measurement program on symmetric and heavy mass fission product distributions. The combination of measurements with ionisation chamber and Ge detectors is necessary to describe precisely the heavy fission product region in mass and charge. Recently, new measurements of fission yields and kinetic energy distributions, for different fissioning systems (233,235 U(nth, f),241 Am(2nth, f) and 239,241 Pu(nth, f), were performed with recoil spectrometer LOHENGRIN. The focus has been done on the self-normalization of the data to provide new absolute measurements, independently of any libraries along with the experimental covariance matrix. To reach precise measurements, a new experimental procedure was developed along with a new analysis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2020
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34. The STEREO Experiment

Author

Allemandou , N., Almazán , H., Del Amo Sanchez , P., Bernard , L., Bernard , C., Blanchet , A., Bonhomme , A., Bosson , G., Bourrion , O., Bouvier , J., Buck , C., Caillot , V., Chala , M., Champion , P., Charon , P., Collin , A., Contrepois , P., Coulloux , G., Deleglise , G., El Kanawati , W., Favier , J., Fuard , S., Gomes Monteiro , I., Gramlich , B., Haser , J., Helaine , V., Heusch , M., Jentschel , M., Kandzia , F., Konrad , G., Köster , U., Kox , S., Lahonde-Hamdoun , C., Lamblin , J., Letourneau , A., Lhuillier , D., Li , C., Lindner , M., Manzanillas , L., Materna , T., Méplan , O., Minotti , A., Monon , C., Montanet , F., Nunio , F., Peltier , F., Penichot , Y., Pequignot , M., Pessard , H., Piret , Y., Prono , G., Quéméner , G., Real , J.-S., Roca , C., Salagnac , T., Sergeyeva , V., Schoppmann , S., Scola , L., Scordilis , J.-P., Soldner , T., Stutz , A., Tourres , D., Vescovi , C., Zsoldos , S., Laboratoire d'Annecy de Physique des Particules ( LAPP/Laboratoire d'Annecy-le-Vieux de Physique des Particules ), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS ( IN2P3 ) -Université Savoie Mont Blanc ( USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry] ) -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ), Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie ( LPSC ), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 ( UJF ) -Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology ( Grenoble INP ) -Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS ( IN2P3 ) -Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ) -Université Grenoble Alpes ( UGA ), Service des Réacteurs et de Mathématiques Appliquées ( SERMA ), Département de Modélisation des Systèmes et Structures ( DM2S ), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives ( CEA ) -Université Paris-Saclay-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives ( CEA ) -Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Laue-Langevin ( ILL ), ILL, Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Caen ( ENSICAEN ), Normandie Université ( NU ), and STEREO

Subjects
neutrino: detector, Physics::Instrumentation and Detectors, shielding, [ PHYS.HEXP ] Physics [physics]/High Energy Physics - Experiment [hep-ex], antineutrino: nuclear reactor, High Energy Physics::Experiment, neutrino: sterile, [ PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-INS-DET ] Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det], detector: design, background: suppression, performance, activity report, Physics::Geophysics
Abstract

The STEREO experiment is a very short baseline reactor antineutrino experiment aiming at testing the hypothesis of light sterile neutrinos as an explanation of the deficit of the observed neutrino interaction rate with respect to the predicted rate, known as the Reactor Antineutrino Anomaly. The detector center is located 10 m away from the compact, highly $^{235}$U enriched core of the research nuclear reactor of the Institut Laue Langevin in Grenoble, France. This paper describes the STEREO site, the detector components and associated shielding designed to suppress the external sources of background which were characterized on site. It reports the performances in terms of detector response and energy reconstruction.

Published
2018

35. 7Li neutron-induced elastic scattering cross section measurement using a slowing-down spectrometer

Author

Heusch M., Ghetta V., Chabod S., Brissot R., Billebaud A., Méplan O., Kessedjian G., and Liatard E.

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

A new integral measurement of the 7Li neutron induced elastic scattering cross section was determined in a wide neutron energy range. The measurement was performed on the LPSC-PEREN experimental facility using a heterogeneous graphite-LiF slowing-down time spectrometer coupled with an intense pulsed neutron generator (GENEPI-2). This method allows the measurement of the integral elastic scattering cross section in a slowing-down neutron spectrum. A Bayesian approach coupled to Monte Carlo calculations was applied to extract naturalC, 19F and 7Li elastic scattering cross sections.

Published
2010
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36. Results from the TARC experiment: spallation neutron phenomenology in lead and neutron-driven nuclear transmutation by adiabatic resonance crossing

Author

Abánades, A, Aleixandre, J, Andriamonje, S, Angelopoulos, A, Apostolakis, A, Arnould, H, Belle, E, Bompas, C.A, Brozzi, D, Bueno, J, Buono, S, Carminati, F, Casagrande, F, Cennini, P, Collar, J.I, Cerro, E, Moral, R.Del, Dı́ez, S, Dumps, L, Eleftheriadis, C, Embid, M, Fernández, R, Gálvez, J, Garcı́a, J, Gelès, C, Giorni, A, González, E, González, O, Goulas, I, Heuer, D, Hussonnois, M, Kadi, Y, Karaiskos, P, Kitis, G, Klapisch, R, Kokkas, P, Lacoste, V, Naour, C.Le, López, C, Loiseaux, J.M, Martı́nez-Val, J.M, Méplan, O, Nifenecker, H, Oropesa, J, Papadopoulos, I, Pavlopoulos, P, Pérez-Enciso, E, Pérez-Navarro, A, Perlado, M, Placci, A, Poza, M, Revol, J.-P, Rubbia, C, Rubio, J.A, Sakelliou, L, Saldaña, F, Savvidis, E, Schussler, F, Sirvent, C, Tamarit, J, Trubert, D, Tzima, A, Viano, J.B, Vieira, S, Vlachoudis, V, and Zioutas, K

Published
2002
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37. Preliminary design studies by a complete academic simulation toolbox of a water-cooled thorium-fueled small modular reactor core

Author

Prévot, P., Nuttin, A., Capellan, O., Méplan, O., Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Vernay, Emmanuelle

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP] Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]
Abstract

International audience; A simple methodology has been developed for the design of competitive PWR-likereactors. It is illustrated by a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) loaded with thorium fuel andtargeting an ambitious final burnup. The complexity of the tested nuclear cores is managed byprogressively increasing the level of simulation detail and taking into account the relatedoperating constraints. For sufficient design margin, various moderation ratio values have beenconsidered. By means of our C++ framework SMURE (Serpent/MCNP Utility for ReactorEvolution), fuel evolution is first computed at the mirrored assembly scale, then at the full corescale with power flattening. Particular care is taken to make reactivity management, by standardsoluble boron completed by an optimized suite of burnable poisons, realistic at both scales. Safetyrequirements are finally tested on a typical Rod Ejection Accident (REA). This core transientcalculation relies on our diffusion-based Nodal Drift Method (NDM) coupled to our 1D-RZtime-dependent code BATH (Basic Approach to Thermal-Hydraulics).

Published
2017

38. MURE 2 : SMURE, Serpent-MCNP Utility for Reactor Evolution User Guide -Version 1 Main Contributors

Author

Méplan, O., Hajnrych, Jan, Bidaud, A., David, S., Capellan, N., Leniau, B., Nuttin, A., Havluj, Frantisek, Vocka, Radim, Wilson, J., Chambon, R., Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Mines Nantes (Mines Nantes), Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay (IPNO), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire SUBATECH Nantes (SUBATECH), Mines Nantes (Mines Nantes)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], [INFO.INFO-CL]Computer Science [cs]/Computation and Language [cs.CL]
Published
2017

39. The STEREO experiment

Author

Allemandou, N., primary, Almazán, H., additional, Sanchez, P. del Amo, additional, Bernard, L., additional, Bernard, C., additional, Blanchet, A., additional, Bonhomme, A., additional, Bosson, G., additional, Bourrion, O., additional, Bouvier, J., additional, Buck, C., additional, Caillot, V., additional, Chala, M., additional, Champion, P., additional, Charon, P., additional, Collin, A., additional, Contrepois, P., additional, Coulloux, G., additional, Desbrières, B., additional, Deleglise, G., additional, Kanawati, W. El, additional, Favier, J., additional, Fuard, S., additional, Monteiro, I. Gomes, additional, Gramlich, B., additional, Haser, J., additional, Helaine, V., additional, Heusch, M., additional, Jentschel, M., additional, Kandzia, F., additional, Konrad, G., additional, Köster, U., additional, Kox, S., additional, Lahonde-Hamdoun, C., additional, Lamblin, J., additional, Letourneau, A., additional, Lhuillier, D., additional, Li, C., additional, Lindner, M., additional, Manzanillas, L., additional, Materna, T., additional, Méplan, O., additional, Minotti, A., additional, Monon, C., additional, Montanet, F., additional, Nunio, F., additional, Peltier, F., additional, Penichot, Y., additional, Pequignot, M., additional, Pessard, H., additional, Piret, Y., additional, Prono, G., additional, Quéméner, G., additional, Real, J.-S., additional, Roca, C., additional, Salagnac, T., additional, Sergeyeva, V., additional, Schoppmann, S., additional, Scola, L., additional, Scordilis, J.-P., additional, Soldner, T., additional, Stutz, A., additional, Tourres, D., additional, Vescovi, C., additional, and Zsoldos, S., additional

Published
2018
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40. Experimental verification of neutron phenomenology in lead and transmutation by adiabatic resonance crossing in accelerator driven systems

Author

Arnould, H., Bompas, C.A., Del Moral, R., Lacoste, V., Vlachoudis, V., Aleixandre, J., Bueno, J., Cerro, E., González, O., Tamarit, J., Andriamonje, S., Brozzi, D., Buono, S., Carminati, F., Casagrande, F., Cennini, P., Collar, J.I., Dumps, L., Gelès, C., Goulas, I., Fernández, R., Kadi, Y., Klapisch, R., Oropesa, J., Placci, A., Revol, J.-P., Rubbia, C., Rubio, J.A., Saldaña, F., Embid, M., Gálvez, J., López, C., Pérez-Enciso, E., Poza, M., Sirvent, C., Vieira, S., Abánades, A., Garcia, J., Martinez-Val, J.M., Perlado, M., González, E., Hussonnois, M., Le Naour, C., Trubert, D., Belle, E., Giorni, A., Heuer, D., Loiseaux, J.M., Méplan, O., Nifenecker, H., Schussler, F., Viano, J.B., Angelopoulos, A., Apostolakis, A., Karaiskos, P., Sakelliou, L., Kokkas, P., Pavlopoulos, P., Eleftheriadis, C., Kitis, G., Papadopoulos, I., Savvidis, E., Tzima, A., Zioutas, K., Diez, S., and Pérez-Navarro, A.

Published
1999
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41. Validation of the Nodal Drift Method on a CANDU LOCA and First Application to the TWIGL Seed-Blanket REA

Author

Nuttin, A., Prévot, P., Capellan, N., David, S., Doligez, X., Méplan, O., Vernay, Emmanuelle, Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay (IPNO), and Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP] Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]
Abstract

International audience; The Nodal Drift Method (NDM) has been developed for a broad and coarse safety review ofpromising thorium-fueled High Conversion Water Reactor (HCWR) options. Conceived as a missing linkbetween too approximate point kinetics and too sophisticated industrial codes, NDM is based on 2-groupdiffusion theory and a lumped parameter model with maximized mesh size. It has been validated on aCANDU LOCA (Loss Of Coolant Accident) benchmark, without any need for thermal calculations. Withsame principle of pre-tabulated cross sections and as a first application to PWR-like REA (Rod EjectionAccident), the well-known TWIGL benchmark of a ramp transient within a heterogeneous core has beencalculated. From its good results have been deduced a few perspectives towards future HCWR studies.

Published
2016

42. Achievable precisions with the Lohengrin spectrometer: 233U(n,f), 239,241Pu(n,f)

Author

Abdelaziz Chebboubi, Kessedjian, G., Julien-Laferrière, S., Sage, C., Méplan, O., Faust, H., Köster, U., Blanc, A., Mutti, P., Olivier Serot, Litaize, O., Bernard, D., Letourneau, A., Materna, T., Rapala, M., Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), ILL, CEA Cadarache, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Vernay, Emmanuelle, and Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP] Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
Abstract

International audience

Published
2015

43. Determination of neutron-induced fission fragment spin distribution after neutron evaporation

Author

Abdelaziz Chebboubi, Kessedjian, G., Litaize, O., Olivier Serot, Faust, H., Bernard, D., Blanc, A., Köster, U., Méplan, O., Mutti, P., Sage, C., Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), ILL, F. Cerutti, M. Chadwick, A. Ferrari, T. Kawano and P. Schoofs, Vernay, Emmanuelle, and F. Cerutti, M. Chadwick, A. Ferrari, T. Kawano and P. Schoofs

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP] Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], Nuclear Theory, Nuclear Physics - Experiment, [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], Nuclear Experiment
Abstract

International audience; Nuclear fission consists of splitting a nucleus into smaller nuclei. Several observablesare available to study the fission process such as fission yields orfission fragment angular momentum. Currently, fission models cannot predictall the observables with an acceptable accuracy for nuclear fuel cyclestudies for instance. Improvement of fission models is an important issue forthe knowledge of the process itself and for the applications. In this work, wetake an interest in fission fragment angular momentum distribution. Isomericratios (IRs) are a common observable giving access to investigate these distributions.We measured accurate IRs for 88Br, 132Sn and 132Te with the fissionfragment separator LOHENGRIN and developed a new analysis method toassess the mean value and uncertainty of the IR. An evaluation of the angularmomentum distribution of 132Sn was also performed with the FIFFRELINcode.

Published
2015

44. Multipurpose applications of the accelerator-based neutron source GENEPI2

Author

Villa, F., Baylac, M., Billebaud, A., Boge, P., Cabanel, T., Labussière, E., Méplan, O., Rey, S., Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and GENEPI2

Subjects
[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-ACC-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Accelerator Physics [physics.acc-ph]
Abstract

International audience; GENEPI2 (GEnérateur de NEutrons Pulsé Intense) is anaccelerator-based neutron source operating at LPSC laboratory in Grenoble(France). The neutrons are produced at 2.5MeV or 14.2MeV trough fusion reactions.GENEPI2 specifications allow performing efficiently accelerated irradiationtests of integrated circuits. This facility can also be operated to test and calibrate differenttypes of detectors. This paper will describe the facility and its performances.Then, measurements of the neutron production will be presented as well as differenttypes of experiments and irradiations. Finally, we describe upgrades undertaken toincrease the neutron flux and optimize the facility for multiple applications.

Published
2015

46. Energie et matière : radioactivité, fission, fusion

Author

Méplan, O., Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Mosseri R., Jeandel C., and Vernay, Emmanuelle

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP] Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]
Abstract

ISBN 9782271076786

Published
2013

47. Measurements of the Mass and Isotopic Yields of the 233U(nth,f) Reaction at the Lohengrin Spectrometer

Author

Sage, C., Martin, F., Kessedjian, G., Bidaud, A., Billebaud, A., Capellan, N., Chabod, S., Méplan, O., O. Bacri, C., Doligez, X., Cywinski, R., Faust, H., Köster, U., Letourneau, A., Materna, T., Panebianco, S., Mathieu, L., Serot, Olivier, Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay (IPNO), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Aval du cycle et Energie Nucléaire (ACEN), Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux Gradignan (CENBG), Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), ILL, and Vernay, Emmanuelle

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP] Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
Abstract

International audience

Published
2011

48. 233U fission yields measurements in the heavy mass region

Author

Sage, C., Martin, F., Kessedjian, G., Billebaud, A., Chabod, S., Doligez, X., Méplan, O., Faust, H., Köester, U., Serot, Olivier, Letourneau, A., Panebianco, S., Materna, T., Mathieu, L., Cywinski, R., Bacri, C.O., Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay (IPNO), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Département de Physique Nucléaire (ex SPhN) (DPHN), Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (IRFU), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris-Saclay-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris-Saclay, Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux Gradignan (CENBG), Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Vernay, Emmanuelle, Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11), ILL, and Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP] Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]
Published
2011

49. Sodium-cooled fast reactors: void coefficient and waste minimization. Neutronic studies using MURE

Author

Brizi, J., Méplan, O., David, S., Bidaud, A., Capellan, N., Guillemin, P., Nuttin, A., Wilson, J., Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay (IPNO), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Vernay, Emmanuelle

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP] Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex], [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]
Abstract

paper 9205; International audience; The future of nuclear energy may require breeding and optimized waste management. Innovative technologies have to be explored, in order to reduce considerably the ore consumption and the associated waste production. Sodiumcooled fast reactors seem to be the most achievable technology in the coming decades, and can play an important role to launch the generation 4 technologies. However, the standard sodium-cooled reactors face to the problem of the positive void reactivity and a major Minor Actinides (MA) production if transmutation is not considered. In this context, we perform neutronic studies on innovative (or evolutive) sodium-cooled reactors. These studies are based on MURE (MCNP Utility for Reactor Evolution), a C++ object-oriented evolution code that couples the Monte-Carlo transport code MCNP with a fuel depletion code under given conditions. Firstly, a “reference” case, a SFR without recycling MA, is presented and a propagation of statistical error is shown during the whole evolution. Then, different configurations of a fast sodium cooled reactor (SFR, with a total power of 1.45 GWe) are investigated. A self-breeding Th/U configuration has been found, using thorium blankets, which allows reducing significantly sodium void reactivity. Comparisons of produced wastes in different systems (Th/U or U/Pu fuel) are presented.

Published
2009

50. 3D coupling of Monte Carlo neutronics and thermal-hydraulics calculations as a simulation tool for innovative reactor concepts

Author

Capellan, N., Wilson, J., David, S., Méplan, O., Brizi, J., Bidaud, A., Nuttin, A., Guillemin, P., Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay (IPNO), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC), and Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
[PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]
Abstract

paper 9274; International audience; Safety analysis of innovative reactor designs, such as generation IV concepts, requires three dimensional modeling to ensure a sufficiently realistic description. Moreover, if precise solutions of local physical phenomena (DNBR, cross flow, form factors,...) are to be found then the use of accurate 3D coupled neutronics/thermal-hydraulics codes becomes essential. In this paper we present the development and simulation results of such coupling capabilities using the code MURE (MCNP Utility for Reactor Evolution), which automates the preparation and computation of successive MCNP calculations either for precision burn-up and/or thermal-hydraulics/thermics purposes. Thermal-hydraulics calculations are performed with the code COBRA, a sub-channel code that allows steady-state and transient analysis of reactor cores. The goal is a generic, non system-specific code, for both burn-up calculations and safety analysis at any point in the fuel cycle since the eventual trajectory of an accident scenario will be sensitive to the initial distribution of fissile material and neutron poisons in the reactor (axial and radial heterogeneity). The MURE code is open-source, portable and manages all the neutronics and the thermal-hydraulics/thermics calculations in background: control is provided by MURE or the user can interact directly with the codes if desired. MURE automatically builds input files and other necessary data, and manages all necessary code communications. Consequently accurate 3D simulations of power plants on both global and pin level of detail with thermal feedback can be easily performed (radial and axial meshing grids are managed by MURE).

Published
2009

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