Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nuclear Data Development Related to the Th–U Fuel Cycle in India

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Book cover Thorium Energy for the World

Abstract

This paper aims to share the excitement, challenges, and progress in the indigenous Indian efforts in nuclear data science in a generic context, in particular, towards the utilization of the thorium fuel cycle. To meet all the nuclear data needs in India for energy and non-energy applications, a Nuclear Data Physics Centre of India (NDPCI) was successfully formed in 2009. The NDPCI operates in a virtual mode at this time. Efforts are underway to create a sustainable physical center for the NDPCI. This paper also presents the interesting results of calculations that show a highly positive temperature coefficient for the BeO reflector in the KAMINI reactor, the only operating 233U-fuelled reactor in the world.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Ganesan, S.: A review of the current status of nuclear data for major and minor isotopes of thorium fuel cycle. In: Proceedings of the International Topical Meeting on Advances in Reactor Physics and Mathematics and Computation into the Next Millennium, American Nuclear Society, Pennsylvania, USA, 7–11 May 2000

    Google Scholar 

  2. http://www.dae.gov.in and http://www.barc.gov.in/reactor/tfc.html

  3. Ganesan, S.: New reactor concepts and new nuclear data needed to develop them. In: International Conference on Nuclear Data ND2004, Santa Fe, USA, American Institute of Physics (AIP) Conference Proceedings CP 769, pp. 1411–1416. May, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ganesan, S.: Perceived problems, challenges and needs in the area: long-term needs of nuclear data of innovative materials for fission energy systems. In: Technical Meeting on Long-Term Needs for Nuclear Data Development, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria, 2–4 November, 2011. See also: Plompen, A., Summary report, INDC (NDS)-0601 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ganesan, S.: Nuclear data requirements for accelerator driven sub-critical systems—a roadmap in the indian context. Pramana 68(2), 257–268 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Vijayan, P.K., et al.: Overview of the thorium programme in India. In: Proceedings of the Thorium Energy Conference 2013, Geneva, Switzerland, 2013. See also: http://www.barc.gov.in/reactor/ahwr.html

  7. Wattal, P.K., et al.: Recycling challenges of thorium-based fuels. In: Proceedings of the Thorium Energy Conference 2013, Geneva, Switzerland (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Degweker, S.B., et al.: Accelerator-driven systems for thorium utilization in India. In: Proceedings of the thorium energy conference 2013, Geneva, Switzerland (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ganesan, S.: Evaluation of statistical resonance parameters for th-232 in 4 to 41 kev energy region. Kalpakkam (IGCAR), report RRC-42 INDC(IND)-26/GJ (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ganesan, S., Sharma, M.L.: Evaluation of resonance parameters in resolved and unresolved resonance region for U-233. Kalpakkam (IGCAR), report RRC-43, INDC(IND)-28/GJ (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ganesan, S., et al.: Problems and experiences in nuclear data processing in developing countries. Prog. Nucl. Energy 14, 301–311 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ganesan, S., et al.: A programme of evaluation, processing and testing of nuclear data for Th-232, IAEA-TECDOC–336, Transactinium isotope nuclear data 1984. In: Proceedings of the Third Advisory Group Meeting on Transactinium Isotope Nuclear Data organized by the IAEA, Uppsala, Sweden, pp. 429–447, 21–25 May 1984

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ganesan, S., et al.: New results of the use of recent nuclear data files for 233U and 232Th on doubling time characteristics for a typical FBR. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on the Physics of Reactors, Operation, Design and Computation, Societe Francaise l’energie nucleaire (SFEN), Marseille, France, pp. III.1–III.8, 23–27 Apr 1990

    Google Scholar 

  14. http://www-nds.indcentre.org.in/exfor/exfor.htm

  15. Nayak, B.K., et al.: Determination of the 233Pa(n,f) reaction cross section from 11.5 to 16.5 MeV neutron energy by the hybrid surrogate ratio approach. Phys. Rev. C (R) 78, 061602 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  16. EXFOR entry no. 33023. The correct EXFOR data entry for Ref. [15] was done by BARC in collaboration with N. Otsuka of the IAEA-NDS

    Google Scholar 

  17. Desai, V.V., et al.: Determination of the 239Np(n,f) and 240Np(n,f) cross sections using the surrogate reaction method. Phys. Rev. C 88, 014613 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Desai, V.V., et al.: Determination of 241Pu(n,f) cross sections by the surrogate-ratio method. Phys. Rev. C 87, 034604 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Desai, V.V., et al.: Determining 234Pa(n,f) cross sections using the surrogate method. Phys. Rev. C 89, 024606 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Naik, H., et al.: 233Pa (2nth, f ) cross-section determination using a fission track technique. Eur. Phys. J. A 47, 100 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bhike, M., et al.: Measurement of 67Zn(n,p)67Cu, 92Mo(n,p)92mNb, and 98Mo(n, γ)99Mo reaction cross sections at incident neutron energies of E n = 1.6 and 3.7 MeV. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 163, 175–182 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bhike, M., et al.: Measurement of 232Th(n,g)233Th, 98Mo(n,g)99Mo, 186W(n,g)187W, 115In(n,g)116m1In, and 92Mo(n,p)92mNb Cross Sections in the Energy Range of 1.6 to 3.7 MeV. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 170, 44–53 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Prajapati, P.M., et al.: Measurement of neutron induced reaction cross sections in Zirconium isotopes at thermal, 2.45 MeV and 9.85 MeV Energies. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 171, 78–84 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Crasta, R., et al.: Measurement of the 232Th(n,γ)233Th and 232Th (n,2n)231Th reaction cross sections at neutron energies of 8.04 ± 0.30 and 11.90 ±0.35 MeV. Ann. Nucl. Energy 47, 160–165 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Mukerji, S., et al.: Measurement of 232Th(n,γ) and 232Th(n,2n) cross sections at neutron energies of 13.5, 15.5 and 17.28 MeV using neutron activation techniques. Pramana 79, 249–262 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Prajapati, P.M., et al.: Fission product yield in the neutron-induced fission of 232Th with average energies of 5.42, 7.75 and 10.09 MeV. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 176, 106–113 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  27. https://www-nds.iaea.org/exfor-master/x4compil/exfor_input.htm

  28. Ganesan, S.: A brief status report on selected Indian nuclear data physics activities, submitted to the NRDC Meeting-2009. In: IAEA, Vienna. Available online: https://www-nds.iaea.org/nrdc/nrdc_2009/progres/ndpci.pdf

  29. Ganesan, S.: A status report on EXFOR compilation activities in India and on formation of Nuclear Data Physics Centre of India (NDPCI). In: IAEA Technical Meeting of the International Network of Nuclear Reaction Data Centres, Sapporo, Japan, 20–23 April, 2010, https://www-nds.iaea.org/nrdc/nrdc_2010/progres/ndpci.pdf

  30. IAEA CRP on evaluated nuclear data for thorium–uranium fuel cycle. http://www-pub.iaea.org/books/IAEABooks/8216/Evaluated-Nuclear-Data-for-Nuclides-within-the-Thorium-Uranium-Fuel-Cycle

  31. Ganesan, S.: Integral benchmarks with reference to thorium fuel cycle, IAEA Co-ordinated Research Project on Evaluated Data for the Thorium–Uranium Fuel Cycle, First Research Co-ordination Meeting, Vienna, Austria, 25–29 August, 2003. Proceedings edited by A. Trkov and available as INDC report: INDC(NDS)-447, pp. 29–52 (2003); available as an electronic document at: www.nds.iaea.org/publications/indc/indc-nds-0447.pdf

  32. WIMS Library Update Project, IAEA Coordinated Research Project, 1998–2002: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1264_web.pdf

  33. Thiyagarajan, T.K., et al.: Generation of handbook of multi-group cross sections of WIMS-D libraries by using the XnWlup2.0 software. Ann. Nucl. Energy 30, 793–809 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Singh, B., et al.: Analysis of power rise transient in KAPS-1 and power co-efficient evaluation. In: IAEA International Conference on Operational Safety performance in Nuclear Installations, Vienna, Austria, 30 November–2 December, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kumar, A., Ganesan, S.: Fission neutron spectrum sensitivity study for the case of advanced heavy water reactor. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 172, 20–32 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Balakrishnan, K., Kakodkar, A.: Optimization of the initial fuel loading of the Indian PHWR with thorium bundles for achieving full power. Ann. Nucl. Energy 21, 1–9 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Srinivasan, P., et al.: Estimation of dose rates on the PHWR irradiated thorium oxide bundles based on BARC updated nuclear data for ORIGEN code. In: National Workshop on Nuclear Data, NWND-2006, Mangalore, India, 8–11 November, 2006

    Google Scholar 

  38. https://www-nds.iaea.org/pfns/public.html

  39. Radha, E., et al.: Kalpakkam mini (Kamini) reactor: Beryllium-oxide-reflected water-moderated 233U-fueled reactor. In: International Handbook of Criticality Safety Evaluation Project Organized by US-DOE (USA) and NEA-DB (France). ICSBEP Reference: U233-MET-THERM-001, http://icsbep.inl.gov (2005)

  40. Kannan, U., Ganesan, S.: Analysis of coolant void reactivity of advanced heavy water reactor (AHWR) through isotopic reaction rates. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 167, 105–121 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Saxena, A.: A brief status report on the activities of Nuclear Data Physics Centre of India (NDPCI). In: IAEA Technical Meeting of the International Network of Nuclear Reaction Data Centres, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, 16–19 April, 2012; https://www-nds.iaea.org/nrdc/nrdc_2012/progres/ndpci.pdf

Download references

Acknowledgments

A large number of colleagues at BARC, IGCAR, have contributed over the years to interesting discussions presented in this paper. The views expressed in this paper are based upon the author’s own perspectives. Special thanks are due to R.K. Sinha, Chairman, DAE, and Dr. S. Basu, Director, BARC, for constant support at every stage. Thanks are also due to Ms. Sujatha Kumari for calculations presented in Table 1 and to Andrej Trkov for independently confirming the results presented in Table 1. Thanks are due to the IAEA (Otto Schwerer, S. Duneava, N. Otsuka) for guidance and help in the phenomenally successful Indian EXFOR activities. The author thanks A. Saxena, H. Naik, E. Radha, Umasankari Kannan, Anek Kumar, B. K. Nayak, S.V. Suryanarayana, S. Kailas, P.D. Krishnani for interesting discussions. The oral presentation included many other related pieces of information and details, which have been left out of this paper due to space constraints.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Reactor Physics Design Division, Reactor Design and Development Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India

    S. Ganesan

Authors
  1. S. Ganesan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CERN PH Department, Geneva 23, Switzerland

    Jean-Pierre Revol

  2. Physics Department, University of Geneva, Geneva 4, Switzerland

    Maurice Bourquin

  3. CERN Engineering Department, Geneva 23, Switzerland

    Yacine Kadi

  4. CERN PH Department, Geneva 23, Switzerland

    Egil Lillestol

  5. Aubonne, Switzerland

    Jean-Christophe de Mestral

  6. Technological Circuits Department, Řež Nuclear Research Centre, Prague, Czech Republic

    Karel Samec

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Ganesan, S. (2016). Nuclear Data Development Related to the Th–U Fuel Cycle in India. In: Revol, JP., Bourquin, M., Kadi, Y., Lillestol, E., de Mestral, JC., Samec, K. (eds) Thorium Energy for the World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26542-1_31

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation