Cumulative fission yield measurements with 14.7 MeV neutrons on 238U*

Abstract

Abstract The fission yield data in the 14 MeV energy neutron induced fission of 238U play an important role in decay heat calculations and generation-IV reactor designs. In order to accurately measure fission product yields (FPYs) of 238U induced by 14 MeV neutrons, the cumulative yields of fission products ranging from 92Sr to 147Nd in the 238U(n, f) reaction with a 14.7 MeV neutron were determined using an off-line γ-ray spectrometric technique. The 14.7 MeV quasi-monoenergetic neutron beam was provided by the K-400 D-T neutron generator at China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). Fission products were measured by a low background high purity germanium gamma spectrometer. The neutron flux was obtained from the 93Nb (n, 2n)92mNb reaction, and the mean neutron energy was calculated using the cross-section ratios for the 90Zr(n, 2n)89Zr and 93Nb(n, 2n)92mNb reactions. With a series of corrections, high precision cumulative yields of 20 fission products were obtained. Our FPYs for the 238U(n, f) reaction at 14.7 MeV were compared with the existing experimental nuclear reaction data and evaluated nuclear data, respectively. The results will be helpful in the design of a generation-IV reactor and the construction of evaluated fission yield databases.