Monte Carlo analysis of Pu-H/sub 2/O and UO/sub 2/-PuO/sub 2/-H/sub 2/O critical assemblies with ENDF/B-IV data (open access)

Monte Carlo analysis of Pu-H/sub 2/O and UO/sub 2/-PuO/sub 2/-H/sub 2/O critical assemblies with ENDF/B-IV data

A set of critical experiments, comprising thirteen homogeneous Pu-H/sub 2/O assemblies and twelve UO/sub 2/-PuO/sub 2/ lattices, was analyzed with ENDF/B-IV data and the RCPO1 Monte Carlo program, which modeled the experiments explicitly. Some major data sensitivities were also evaluated. For the Pu-H/sub 2/O assemblies, calculated K/sub eff/ averaged 1.011. The large (2.7%) scatter of K/sub eff/ values for these assemblies was attributed mostly to uncertainties in physical specifications since no clear trends of K/sub eff/ were evident and data sensitivities were insignificant. The UO/sub 2/-PuO/sub 2/ lattices showed just one trend of K/sub eff/, which indicated an overprediction of U238 capture consistent with that observed for uranium-H/sub 2/O experiments. There was however a approx. 1% discrepancy in calculated K/sub eff/ between the two sets of UO/sub 2/-PuO/sub 2/ lattices studied.
Date: April 1, 1981
Creator: Hardy, J. Jr. & Ullo, J.J.
System: The UNT Digital Library