A Comparative Study of Tritium Breeding Calculations Using JEF-1 and ENDF/B-V based Nuclear Data Libraries

Abstract

The authors performed tritium breeding calculations for promising fusion blankets using nuclear data libraries processed based on the JEF-1 and the ENDF/B-V. We hope that by comparing the results of these calculations, deficiencies can be identified in both libraries. Through future collaborative effort among nuclear data developers, we believe an international fusion nuclear data file, available to any country, can be made. The tritium breeding reaction rates are given at three first breeding zone (zone 4) thicknesses, namely 15, 30, and 45 cm. The total tritium breeding ratios calculated with the JEF-1-based library are slightly higher, by approx. 3%, than those calculated with the ENDF/B-V-based library. However, large discrepancies occur in the contribution of tritium breeding from the /sup 6/Li(n,..cap alpha..)T and /sup 7/Li(n,n'..cap alpha..)T reaction rates except for the case when the first breeding zone is 15 cm thick. Higher /sup 6/Li(n,..cap alpha..)T reaction rates were obtained for the 35- and 45-cm cases calculated with the ENDF/B-V-based library than with the JEF-1-based library, and vice versa for the /sup 7/Li(n,n'..cap alpha..)T reaction rates. The effect of cancellation-of-error, however, results in only slightly different total tritium breeding ratios for both cases.