Trends in Nuclear Data Derived from Integral Experiments in Thermal and Epithermal Reactors

Abstract

The calculation of reactor design parameters with ever higher accuracy requires constant improvement in basic nuclear data and computational techniques. Integral experiments are a very powerful means of assessing the quality of nuclear data for specific applications, nicely complementing differential measurements. In France, an extensive programme of validation of the neutronic code APOLLO2 and its associated JEF2.2 based library CEA93 is underway. The results obtained allows us to demonstrate the interest of coupling information extracted from integral experiments and differential measurements to improve nuclear data evaluations. This study has strongly contributed to the improvement and selection of the nuclear data evaluations which will be introduced in the new JEFF3.0 library.

Keywords:

• Nuclear data needs
• French Experimental data base
• APOLLO2
• JEF2.2