NEA Mandates and Structures

Expert Group on Reactor Physics and Advanced Nuclear Systems

Mandate (Document reference):

• Agreed at the 21^st meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee in June 2010 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2010)3]
• Revised mandate at the 9^th meeting of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPRS(2012)7]
• Extended as a part of WPRS activities at the 23^rd meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee in June 2012 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2012)3]
• Extended and revised at the 11^th meeting of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPRS(2014)2/REV1]
• Extended and revised at the 13^th meeting of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPRS(2016)2]
• Extended and revised mandate at the 15^th meeting of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems [NEA/NSC/WPRS/DOC(2018)9]
• Mandate of the Expert Group on Reactor Physics and Advanced Nuclear Systems [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPRS(2018)2]

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract from document [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPRS(2018)2]

Scope

Under the guidance of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems (WPRS), the Expert Group on Reactor Physics and Advanced Nuclear Systems (EGRPANS) will perform specific tasks associated with reactor physics aspects of present and future nuclear power systems. Reactor types considered include, but are not limited to the following:

• Present generation light-water reactors (LWRs) and heavy-water reactors (HWRs) with advanced and innovative fuels;
• Evolutionary and innovative LWRs and HWRs, including small modular reactors (SMRs);
• High-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs);
• Fast-spectrum systems and advanced reactor systems, including fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (FHRs) and molten salt reactors (MSRs); and
• Accelerator-driven (sub-critical) and critical systems for waste transmutation.

Objectives

The objective of the EGRPANS is to provide expert advice to the WPRS and the nuclear community on the development needs (data and methods, validation experiments, scenario studies) for different reactor systems.

The fulfilment of this objective notably entails providing specific technical information on:

• Core reactivity characteristics, including fuel depletion effects;
• Core power/flux distributions; and
• Core dynamics and reactivity control.

This technical information will generally be derived from a combination of direct experimental evidence and/or the results of theoretical benchmark analyses using accurate, validated modelling methods. In either case the availability of suitable experimental data is a fundamental requirement. A key objective of the EGRPANS will therefore be to help identify, evaluate and preserve this type of experimental data. In this context, the EGRPANS will monitor, steer and support the continued development of the International Reactor Physics Experiments Evaluation database (IRPhE).

Where required, the EGRPANS will provide safety scenario studies for advanced systems and fuels. In this context, it will liaise closely with the Working Party on Scientific Issues of the Fuel Cycle (WPFC).

Deliverables

The EGRPANS future deliverables include:

• the Summary report on current status of International Reactor Physics Experiments (IRPhE) database, including priority ‘wish-list’ for future evaluations and review of requirements for database tools;
• the Final Report on high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) Fuel Element Depletion Benchmarks (Phase III);
• the Final Report on 1-D HTR Depletion Benchmark;
• the Review of MSR Physics Issues;
• the FHR Phase-I Benchmark Specification;
• the IRPhE Uncertainty Guide;

Meeting frequency

The EGRPANS will meet once per year, with additional meetings in support of particular activities (e.g. activities led by the IRPhE).