Modeling report of the CEA cadarache MINERVE reactor for the OSMOSE project.

Abstract

The OSMOSE program (Oscillation in Minerve of isotopes in ''Eupraxic'' spectra) is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Commissariat a l' Energie Atomique (CEA). It aims at measuring integral absorption rates of minor actinides by the oscillation technique in the MINERVE experimental facility located at the CEA Cadarache Research Center. The OSMOSE program also includes a complete analytical program to understand and resolve potential discrepancies between calculated and measured values. The OSMOSE program began in 2001 and will continue until 2013. The Argonne National Laboratory has developed Monte Carlo and deterministic calculation models of the MINERVE facility to determine core and safety parameters such as axial and radial fission rate distributions, control rod worth, spectral indices, and the reactivity worth of oscillated samples. Oscillation samples include calibration samples with different uranium enrichments and boron concentrations and the OSMOSE samples--separated actinides including {sup 232}Th, {sup 233}U, {sup 234}U, {sup 235}U, {sup 236}U, {sup 238}U, {sup 237}Np, {sup 238}Pu, {sup 239}Pu, {sup 240}Pu, {sup 241}Pu, {sup 242}Pu, {sup 241}Am, {sup 243}Am, {sup 244}Cm and {sup 245}Cm. Seven different neutron spectra will be created in the MINERVE facility: an overmoderated UO{sub 2} matrix (representative of a fuel processing plant or flooded storage cask), a UO{sub 2} matrix in water (representative of LWRs), a mixed oxide fuel matrix (representative of cores containing MOX fuels), two epithermal spectra (representative of under-moderated reactors), a moderated fast spectrum (representative of fast reactors which have some slowing down due to moderators such as lead-bismuth or sodium), and a very hard spectrum (representative of fast reactors with little moderation from reactor coolant). The different spectra are achieved by changing the experimental lattice within the MINERVE reactor. The currently investigated core configurations are R1UO2 and R1MOX, representative of a LWR loaded with UO{sub 2} and a mixed oxide matrix, respectively. The goal of this report is to synthesize the reactor analysis work performed within the framework of the OSMOSE program by Argonne National Laboratory until September 2004. The Monte Carlo and deterministic models are detailed, and the calculated safety and core parameters as well as the reactivity worth of the calibration samples are compared with the experimental data for the R1UO2 and R1MOX core loadings.