Trends on major actinides from an integral data assimilation

Abstract

The objective of this work is to revisit integral data assimilation for a better prediction of the characteristics of SFR cores. ICSBEP, IRPhE and MASURCA critical masses, PROFIL irradiation experiments and the FCA-IX experimental programme (critical masses and spectral indices) with well-mastered experimental technique have been used. As calculations are performed without modelling errors (with as-built geometries) and without approximations with the TRIPOLI4 MC code, highly reliable C/E are achieved. Assimilation results suggest a 2.5% decrease for 238U capture from 3 keV to 60 keV, and a 4-5% decrease for 238U inelastic in the plateau region. For this energy range, uncertainties are respectively reduced to 1-2% and to 2-2.5% for 238U capture and 238U inelastic respectively. The increase trends on 239Pu capture cross section of around 3% in the [2 keV-100 keV] energy range come from a low PROFIL 240Pu/239Pu ratio C/E. For 240Pu capture cross section, the increase trend of around 4% in the [3 keV-100 keV] energy range goes in the same direction as the recent ENDF/B.VIII evaluation though at a much lower level. The nuclear data uncertainty associated to SFR ASTRID critical mass is reduced to 470 pcm.