Re-evaluation of the EURACOS integral shielding experiment series. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Žerovnik, Gašper; Kodeli, Ivan A.; Trkov, Andrej; Jazbec, Anže
• Is Part Of: Annals of nuclear energy. Volume 77(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 318
• Page End: 325
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Integral shielding experiments -- SINBAD -- MCNP -- Activation reaction rates; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 621.4805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2014.11.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4549

Abstract

Highlights: The EURACOS shielding has been re-analyzed in the framework of SINBAD. Reaction rates and neutron spectra in void, Na and Fe have been observed. The experiment is not benchmark quality mainly due to lack of information on source. Some measured reactions could still be used for modern nuclear data benchmarking. Abstract: The EURACOS experiment series (sodium, iron, and no shielding) has been re-evaluated in the scope of the OECD/NEA SINBAD project to determine how useful these benchmarks can be for the validation of the modern nuclear data evaluations. The measured activation rates of different foils as well as unfolded proton recoil spectra at different depths in sodium and iron have been compared to the Monte Carlo calculated parameters. The results suggest good agreement with the experiment only for the high-threshold 32 S(n, p) reaction detectors. The comparison of the lower threshold 103 Rh(n, n′) and 115 In(n, n′) reactions, and the (n, γ ) reaction on 197 Au under cadmium cover, reveals large discrepancy between the experimental and calculated spatial distributions for these reaction rates which is expected to be due to the uncertainties in the source and background description rather than due to the cross section uncertainties. On the other hand, the unfolded neutron spectra shapes are in relatively good agreement with the calculated ones. The overall results show that the EURACOS Na and Fe experiments cannot be considered of benchmark quality mainly due to unsatisfactory information on the neutron source. Nevertheless, some activation measurements from the EURACOS sodium and iron experiments such as the high threshold reactions and the spectra measurements are potentially useful for modern nuclear data and computer code benchmarking.