光中子源上吸收片功能研究

15 MeV电子直线加速器驱动的光中子源装置,将用于中国科学院战略性先导科技专项“钍基熔盐堆”中的核数据初步测量工作、中子探测器的研制和反应堆相关材料的辐照研究等。光中子源的中子能谱是连续的,中子能量通过中子飞行时间法测量得到,需要利用吸收片确认中子吸收峰,刻度飞行时间,计算等效飞行距离,扣除实验本底等,而实验本底的扣除对最终总截面计算有很大的影响。因此通过Geant4蒙特卡罗模拟软件构建了包括中子源、吸收片在内的模拟实验环境;研究了不同吸收片的吸收谱和吸收片厚度的关系,同理论计算值进行了比较,给出了推荐的吸收片厚度值;模拟计算了中子飞行时间谱,并和实验测量结果比较,确定中子等效飞行距离为5.70 m。Geant4的理论计算也可以模拟出多吸收片本底函数曲线,可用于实验数据的本底扣除和误差分析。实验测量、模拟分析以及理论公式计算的吸收片厚度和中子飞行时间参数得到了完全一致的结果,验证了实验测量的可靠性。A photo-neutron source driven by a 15 MeV electron LINAC is built for the "Strategic Priority Research Program" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences-the "thorium-based molten salt reactor" project to conduct the nuclear data measurement work,develop neutron detector and carry out reactor material irradiation studies.Since the neutron energy spectrum is continuous,the neutron energy is measured by the time of flight (TOF) method,and neutron filters are needed to confirm absorption peaks,calibrate the TOF,calculate the equivalent flight distance,and remove the experimental background which has great influence on the calculation accuracy of the total cross section.Based on the Monte Carlo simulation tool,Geant4 a simulation environment is set up,including neutron source and neutron filters,to study the energy absorption spectra and thickness of different filters and recommended data for the thickness are provided.The neutron TOF spectra are simulated and compared with experimental measurement,deciding the equivalent TOF distance to be 5.7 m.Geant4 can also simulate the background curve of multiple filters and be used to remove background and analyze errors for the experimental data.All the experiments,simulation and theoretical calculation show consistent results on filter thickness and neutron TOF parameters,indicating the accuracy of the measurement.     

Study on spatial resolution of micromegas as a neutron detector under condition of high neutron flux and γ ray background

In this paper Micromegas has been designed to detect neutrons. The simulation of the spatial resolution of Micromegas as neutron detector is carried out by GEANT4 toolkit. The neutron track reconstruction method based on the time coincidence technology is employed in the present work. The influence of the flux of incident 14 MeV neutron and high gamma background on the spatial resolution is carefully studied. Our results show that the spatial resolution of the detector is sensitive to the neutron flux, but insensitive to the intensity of γ background if the neutron track reconstruction method proposed by our group is used. The γ insensitivity makes it possible for us to use the Micromegas detector under condition which has high γ-rays background.     

Measurement of the neutron spectrum of a Pu-C source with a liquid scintillator

The neutron response function for a BC501A liquid scintillator （LS） has been measured using a series of monoenergetic neutrons produced by the p-T reaction. The proton energies were chosen such as to produce neutrons in the energy range of 1 to 20 MeV. The principles of the technique of unfolding a neutron energy spectrum by using the measured neutron response function and the measured Pulse Height （PH） spectrum is briefly described. The PH spectrum of neutrons from the Pu-C source, which will be used for the calibration of the reactor antineutrino detectors for the Daya Bay neutrino experiment, was measured and analyzed to get the neutron energy spectrum. Simultaneously the neutron energy spectrum of an Am-Be source was measured and compared with other measurements as a check of the result for the Pu-C source. Finally, an error analysis and a discussion of the results are given.     

低能α粒子与中子耦合输运模拟

开发了低能α粒子与中子耦合输运程序，可以计算低能α粒子在各种介质中的输运、含氧介质中的（α，n）中子产额，跟踪次级中子。采用蒙特卡罗方法中带权重跟踪的技巧，通过大量小权重事件的模拟成功解决了低能（α，n）反应中子产额太低、无法直接模拟的困难。α粒子的射程与阻止本领用SRIM程序计算，（α，n）截面取自最新的JENDL带电粒子库，次级中子跟踪使用MCNP程序。A new code package of alpha-neutron coupled transportation is developed. It can be used to simulate the transportation of alpha particle in media, to compute the neutron yield in media contains oxygen and to track the history of the secondary neutrons. The secondary neutrons are simulated efficiently by tracking lots of neutrons with small weight, which is determined by the alpha-neutron yield. The stopping power and range of alpha particle in media are given by SRIM code, the alpha-neutron cross section is from charged particle library in JENDL, and the neutrons are treated by MCNP code.     

强中子本底辐射屏蔽体优化设计技术研究

在国内首次采用高强度窄脉冲DPF中子源,采用直照法测量零功率堆瞬发中子时间常数α。由于外中子源本底太强,导致直照中子和散射中子产生的干扰信号比测量信号高三个量级。为有效地抑制外本底,针对不同能量的干扰中子,采用不同材料进行屏蔽。通过数值模拟的方法优化辐射屏蔽体设计,在屏蔽中子的同时也对散射γ 进行了有效屏蔽,使测量信噪比达到了7.5:1,并与实验结果相符合,实验中所采用的新型无机晶体也有效抑制了中子本底。The value of prompt neutron multiplication, α, is measured under the condition of using a denser plasma focus(DPF) neutron-source irradiating zero power assembly for the first time in China. The acquired signal is lower three orders of magnitudes than that of the noise caused by direct and scattered neutrons from the extra-high-intensity neutron-source. Using different kinds of material to decrease the noise caused by neutron with different kinds of energies, an optimized design for radiation shielding is developed by the method of numerical simulation to suppress noise signal. Both neutron and γ-ray are shielded simultaneously. The Signal/Noise Ratio (SNR) with the optimal design was up to 7.5:1 and was consistent with the experimental results. The noise of neutron is decreased effectively by the new kind of unorganic crystals used.     

Measurements of effective delayed neutron fraction in a fast neutron reactor using the perturbation method

A perturbation method is proposed to obtain the effective delayed neutron fraction β_(eff) of a cylindrical highly enriched uranium reactor.Based on reactivity measurements with and without a sample at a specified position using the positive period technique,the reactor reactivity perturbation △ρ of the sample in β_(eff) units is measured.Simulations of the perturbation experiments are performed using the MCNP program.The PERT card is used to provide the difference dκ of effective neutron multiplication factors with and without the sample inside the reactor.Based on the relationship between the effective multiplication factor and the reactivity,the equation β~(eff)=dκ/△ρ is derived.In this paper,the reactivity perturbations of 13 metal samples at the designable position of the reactor are measured and calculated.The average β_(eff) value of the reactor is given as 0.00645,and the standard uncertainty is 3.0%.Additionally,the perturbation experiments for β_(eff) can be used to evaluate the reliabilities of the delayed neutron parameters.This work shows that the delayed neutron data of ~(235)U and ~(238)U from G.R.Keepin's publication are more reliable than those from ENDF-B6.0.ENDF-B7.0,JENDL3.3 and CENDL2.2.     

(n,γ)反应实验研究中的中子屏蔽设计

用射线全吸收型装置(Gamma-ray Total Absorption Facility,GTAF),可以对中子俘获反应截面进行高精度测量。为了降低实验本底,实验中需要对源中子进行准直和屏蔽,还要对被样品散射的中子进行吸收以减少它们进入探测器后所形成的干扰。采用MCNP对中子的准直器、屏蔽体和中子吸收体进行了模拟设计,中子准直屏蔽体材料选用含硼聚乙烯(BC4 的质量分数为3%) 和铅。准直孔直径为13 mm,长度为500mm,经准直后样品处中子束斑坪顶直径为21 mm。中子吸收体材料选用聚乙烯和碳化硼,吸收体球壳内腔半径30 mm,聚乙烯壳层厚度60 mm,碳化硼壳层厚度10 mm,被样品散射的中子经吸收体后衰减93.7%。Neutron capture cross section can be measured by Gamma-ray Total Absorption Facility (GTAF) with high precision. To reduce the background of experiments, the neutron source must be collimated and shielded, and the neutrons scattered from the sample must be absorbed to minimise interference after they go into the detector. The shield, collimator and absorber were simulated and designed with MCNP code. Boron-ontainingpolyethylene with 3% BC4 and lead are used as the materials for the neutron collimator and shield. The diameter of the collimating aperture is 13 mm, and the length of the collimator is 500 mm. After being collimated, the diameter of neutron beam plateau at the sample position is 21 mm. The neutron absorber is made of polyethylene and BC4, and the thickness of polyethylene shell and BC4 shell are 60 and 10 mm, respectively. The simulated result shows that neutrons scattered from the sample can decay 93.7% through the neutron absorber.     

Steady state investigation on neutronics of a molten salt reactor considering the flow effect of fuel salt

The Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), one of the `Generation IV' concepts, is a liquid-fuel reactor, which is different from the conventional reactors using solid fissile materials due to the flow effect of fuel salt. The study on its neutronics considering the fuel salt flow, which is the base of the thermal-hydraulic calculation and safety analysis, must be done. In this paper, the theoretical model on neutronics under steady condition for a single-liquid-fueled MSR is conducted and calculated by numerical method. The neutronics model consists of two group neutron diffusion equations for fast and thermal neutron fluxes, and balance equations for six-group delayed neutron precursors considering the flow effect of fuel salt. The spatial discretization of the above models is based on the finite volume method, and the discretization equations are computed by the source iteration method. The distributions of neutron fluxes and the distributions of the delayed neutron precursors in the core are obtained. The numerical calculated results show that, the fuel salt flow has little effect on the distribution of fast and thermal neutron fluxes and the effective multiplication factor; however, it affects the distribution of the delayed neutron precursors significantly, especially the long-lived one. In addition, it could be found that the delayed neutron precursors influence the neutronics slightly under the steady condition.     

Study of Survival Probability of Super Heavy Nuclei

The survival probability of super heavy nuclei produced in cold fusion reactions is studied by using the standard Fermi gas level density formula and analyzed with fission and neutron evaporation characteristics predicted in different theoretical models. The level density formula used in this letter suppresses the ratio of neutron emission width to fission width, Гn/Гf. The dependence of Гn/Гf on the saddle point level density parameter and excitation energy is also investigated.     

基于D-T紧凑型中子源的快中子照相准直屏蔽体设计及中子束特性模拟研究

中子照相是一种重要的无损检测技术,它能用于火工产品、毒品和核燃料元件等的检测。基于紧凑型D-T中子发生器,完成了一个用于快中子照相的准直屏蔽体系统（BSA）的物理设计。根据D-T中子源的能谱和角分布建立了中子源模型,采用MCNP4C蒙特卡罗程序,模拟了准直屏蔽体系统中中子和γ射线的输运,准直中子束相对于单位源中子的中子注量可以达到9.30×10-6 cm-2,准直中子束中主要是能量大于10 MeV的快中子;在设置的样品平面直径14 cm的照射视野范围,准直束中子注量的不均匀度为4.30%,准直束中中子注量与γ注量的比值为17.20,中子通量和中子注量比值J/Φ为0.992,说明准直中子束有好的平行性;准直屏蔽体外的泄露中子注量率与准直束中子注量率相比降低了2个量级。所设计的准直屏蔽体能满足快中子照相的要求。Neutron radiography is an important nondestructive testing technique. It can be used to detect the explosive devices, drug and the nuclear fuel element, etc. A beam-shaping-assembly (BSA) based on a compact D-T neutron generator is designed for fast neutron radiography in this paper. D-T neutron source model is constructed based on the neutron energy spectrum and angular distribution data. The transportation of neutron and γ-ray in the BSA is simulated using MCNP4C code. The neutron fluence of the collimated neutron beam with respect to the neutron source of the unit source is 9.30×10-6 cm-2. The collimated neutron beams is mainly fast neutrons with energies greater than 10 MeV. In the irradiation field range with a diameter of 14 cm, the neutron fluence uniformity of the collimated beam is 4.3%, the ratio of the neutron fluence to the gamma fluence in the collimated beam is 17.20, and the neutron flux and the neutron fluence ratio (J/Φ) is 0.992 which indicates that the collimated neutron beam has good parallelism. The leakage neutron fluence in outside of BSA is two orders of magnitude lower than that of the collimated neutron beam. The designed BSA can meet the need of fast neutron radiography.     

基于脉冲中子源法的CiADS反应性测量蒙卡模拟分析

脉冲中子源法(PNS)是加速器驱动次临界系统反应性测量的一种重要技术.利用蒙卡软件建立CiADS次临界反应堆模型,模拟注入脉冲质子束的过程,获得的中子通量的时间演化谱.采用Python语言编程实现脉冲叠加过程,给出稳定缓发中子本底,实现脉冲中子源法的次临界反应堆的反应性测量模拟,给出脉冲周期注入下堆芯不同位置处的中子变...     

墙壁反射中子对脉冲堆波形的影响

墙壁的反射中子会对快脉冲堆的波形产生明显的影响.堆芯中子泄漏后,经过墙壁的反射有一定的概率返回堆芯,由于能量的差异,泄漏中子的返回时间是一个连续的分布.传统的双区模型只考虑了相互作用概率,而没有时间信息,尽管可以很好地解决稳态问题,而无法解决瞬态问题.本文采用等效的方法,把泄漏中子等效为时间相关的堆芯本征源,建立了含有反射效应的时间关联双区模型.求解得到的脉冲波形与CFBR-Ⅱ的实验结果一致,从而合理解释了脉冲波形后沿衰减变慢和坪功率提高的实验现象.     

Physical particularities of nuclear reactors using heavy moderators of neutrons

In nuclear reactors, thermal neutron spectra are formed using moderators with small atomic weights. For fast reactors, inserting such moderators in the core may create problems since they efficiently decelerate the neutrons. In order to form an intermediate neutron spectrum, it is preferable to employ neutron moderators with sufficiently large atomic weights, using ²³³U as a fissile nuclide and ²³²Th and ²³¹Pa as fertile ones. The aim of the work is to investigate the properties of heavy neutron moderators and to assess their advantages. The analysis employs the JENDL-4.0 nuclear data library and the SCALE program package for simulating the variation of fuel composition caused by irradiation in the reactor. The following main results are obtained. By using heavy moderators with small neutron moderation steps, one is able to (1) increase the rate of resonance capture, so that the amount of fertile material in the fuel may be reduced while maintaining the breeding factor of the core; (2) use the vacant space for improving the fuel-element properties by adding inert, strong, and thermally conductive materials and by implementing dispersive fuel elements in which the fissile material is self-replenished and neutron multiplication remains stable during the process of fuel burnup; and (3) employ mixtures of different fertile materials with resonance capture cross sections in order to increase the resonance-lattice density and the probability of resonance neutron capture leading to formation of fissile material. The general conclusion is that, by forming an intermediate neutron spectrum with heavy neutron moderators, one can use the fuel more efficiently and improve nuclear safety.     

Z箍缩聚变裂变混合堆包层中子学分析

作为一种有竞争力的能源系统,Z箍缩聚变裂变混合堆(Z-FFR)正在开展概念研究,包层研究正是其中重要的一部分。建立了Z-FFR包层设计模型,分析了包层影响因素、中子平衡、通量与功率密度、燃耗等方面,表明该包层设计在50年内能量放大因子、氚增殖比和燃料增殖比的平均值分别为14.91,1.294和5.140,满足设计要求。针对聚变源的脉冲特性进行了包层的瞬态中子学分析,发现燃料区中子脉冲可分为聚变中子、瞬发裂变中子和缓发裂变中子脉冲三个部分,绝大部分热量约在0.01s内沉积。结果较完整地给出了Z-FFR包层的中子学参数,为概念研究提供了基础。     

瞬发中子密度衰减法计算中子代时间

采用蒙特卡罗程序MCNP计算了西安脉冲堆中子代时间。使用MCNP程序模拟了反应堆瞬发中子通量密度衰减,基于忽略缓发中子项的点堆动力学方程计算出中子代时间。在微次临界下,研究了次临界度、源的分布、计数区域等对西安脉冲堆中子代时间计算结果的影响。计算分析表明:采用瞬发中子密度衰减法计算中子代时间时,微次临界度、源分布、计数区域等对计算结果影响都很小;误差产生的主要原因是忽略缓发中子项的点堆动力学方程并不能较好地反应瞬发中子通量密度的衰减规律。     

次临界能源堆物理设计进展

聚变-裂变混合能源堆包括聚变中子源和次临界能源堆,主要目标是生产电能。回顾了国内外混合堆的发展历史,给出混合能源堆设计的边界条件和约束条件,说明次临界能源堆以铀锆合金为燃料、水为冷却剂的设计思想。利用输运燃耗耦合程序MCORGS计算了混合能源的燃耗,给出了中子有效增殖因数、能量放大倍数和氚增殖比等物理量随时间的变化。通过分析能谱和重要核素随燃耗时间的变化,说明混合能源堆与核燃料增殖、核废料嬗变混合堆的不同特点。论述了混合堆的热工设计并进行了安全分析。对于燃耗数值模拟程序,通过多家对算,保证其计算结果的可信性。针对次临界能源堆的特点,利用贫铀球壳建立了贫铀聚乙烯装置和贫铀LiH装置,并且专门设计加工了天然铀装置,开展铀裂变率、造钚率、产氚率等中子学积分实验,验证了数值模拟的可靠性。     

Steady state investigation on neutronics of a molten salt reactor considering the flow effect of fuel salt

The Molten Salt Reactor (MSR),one of the‘Generation Ⅳ'concepts,is a liquid-fuel reactor,which is different from the conventional reactors using solid fissile materials due to the flow effect of fuel salt.The study on its neutronice considering the fuel salt flow,which is the base of the thermal-hydraulic calculation and safety analysis,must be done.In this paper,the theoretical model on neutronics under steady condition for a single-liquid-fueled MSR is conducted and calculated by numerical method.The neutronics model consists of two group neutron diffusion equations for fast and thermal neutron fluxes,and balance equations for six-group delayed neutron precursors considering the flow effect of fuel salt. The spatial discretization of the above models is based on the finite volume method,and the discretization equations are computed by the source iteration method.The distributions of neutron fluxes and the distributions of the delayed neutron precursors in the core are obtained.The numerical calculated results show that,the fuel salt flow has little effect on the distribution of fast and thermal neutron fluxes and the effective multiplication factor;however,it affects the distribution of the delayed neutron precursors significantly,especially the long-lived one.In addition,it could be found that the delayed neutron precursors influence the nentronics slightly under the steady condition.     

堆振荡器法测量反应性的误差因素分析

为合理选择堆振荡器法实验条件,利用数值求解和公式推导,对影响测量精度的几项主要因素进行了分析。研究表明,通过选择合适的反应性振荡幅度及频率,可以提高堆振荡器法测量反应性的精度。由分析结果可知,对于中子代时间较短的反应堆,要使用堆振荡器法测量小反应性,在测量条件允许的情况下,应尽可能选择高频率的反应性振荡。