TRIPOLI-4 simulation of the FNG copper benchmark experiment and the tritium production in the lithium diamond detector for ITER-TBM

Abstract

Abstract For the future ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) operation needs, several D–T fusion neutron experiments have been conducted at FNG (Frascati Neutron Generator) facility. These FNG experimental results are useful to validate neutron transport codes and nuclear data libraries. The TRIPOLI-4 Monte-Carlo radiation transport code has been widely used on radiation shielding, criticality safety and fission reactor physics fields to support nuclear energy research and industrial applications. With the growing interest in using the TRIPOLI-4 code for ITER applications, a key issue that arises is whether or not the released TRIPOLI-4 code and its associated nuclear data libraries are verified and validated for the 14 MeV fusion neutronics calculations. Copper is a key material used in different components of ITER tokamak machine and the FNG copper benchmark experiment funded by F4E (Fusion for Energy) was recently introduced into the OECD/NEA SINBAD database. In the first part of this work, TRIPOLI-4 calculations were performed to simulate the D–T fusion neutron transport in a pure copper block of FNG-Cu experiments. The reaction rates were evaluated for various activation foils (93Nb(n,2n), 27Al(n,α), 58Ni(n,p), 115In(n,n’), 197Au(n,2n), 186W(n,γ), and 197Au(n,γ)) versus penetration depth in the Cu block. To study the measurement tool of tritium production for the future ITER Test Blanket Module (TBM), the second FNG experiment analyzed in this work arranged a thin layer of 6LiF (LiDia detector) placed inside a polyethylene cylinder and irradiated with FNG 14 MeV neutrons. TRIPOLI-4 simulation models were run to evaluate the tritium production in the LiDia detector. The purpose of this study is to investigate the TRIPOLI-4 calculations against the FNG experimental ones. TRIPOLI-4 calculation methods and results are reported.