For a better estimation of gamma heating in experimental reactors and devices: Stakes and work plan from calculation methods to nuclear data

Abstract

The Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR) is an international Material-Testing Reactor currently under construction at CEA Cadarache. The determination of gamma heating levels in this future commercial reactor is of crucial importance as gamma heating affects both safety and performance parameters of the JHR. Required accuracy (5% at one standard deviation) makes it necessary to calibrate bias and uncertainty associated with JHR gamma-heating calculations. Main steps of bias determination for gamma-heating calculations include, firstly, the development of a calculation methodology with controlled use of physical approximations; secondly, the interpretation of gamma-heating measurements with reference calculations so as to determine bias supposed to be only due to nuclear data.