A Covariance Generation Methodology for Fission Product Yields

Recent safety and economical concerns for modern nuclear reactor applications have fed an outstanding interest in basic nuclear data evaluation improvement and completion. It has been immediately clear that the accuracy of our predictive simulation models was strongly affected by our knowledge on in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Terranova, N., Serot, O., Archier, P., Vallet, V., De Saint Jean, C., Sumini, M.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Bayesian analysis
Charge distribution
Computer simulation
Convolution
Covariance
Data banks
Fission products
Gaussian distribution
Mass distribution
Mathematical models
Model accuracy
Neutron emission
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear reactors
Nuclear safety
Parameter uncertainty
Plutonium
Product safety
Propagation
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Summary:Recent safety and economical concerns for modern nuclear reactor applications have fed an outstanding interest in basic nuclear data evaluation improvement and completion. It has been immediately clear that the accuracy of our predictive simulation models was strongly affected by our knowledge on input data. Therefore strong efforts have been made to improve nuclear data and to generate complete and reliable uncertainty information able to yield proper uncertainty propagation on integral reactor parameters. Since in modern nuclear data banks (such as JEFF-3.1.1 and ENDF/BVII.1) no correlations for fission yields are given, in the present work we propose a covariance generation methodology for fission product yields. The main goal is to reproduce the existing European library and to add covariance information to allow proper uncertainty propagation in depletion and decay heat calculations. To do so, we adopted the Generalized Least Square Method (GLSM) implemented in CONRAD (COde for Nuclear Reaction Analysis and Data assimilation), developed at CEA-Cadarache. Theoretical values employed in the Bayesian parameter adjustment are delivered thanks to a convolution of different models, representing several quantities in fission yield calculations: the Brosa fission modes for pre-neutron mass distribution, a simplified Gaussian model for prompt neutron emission probability, theWahl systematics for charge distribution and the Madland-England model for the isomeric ratio. Some results will be presented for the thermal fission of U-235, Pu-239 and Pu-241.
ISSN:2100-014X
2101-6275
2100-014X
DOI:10.1051/epjconf/201611109003