A validation of copper, nickel and iron data in ENDF/B-VI.2, JEF-2.2 and JENDL-3.2 through a series of BR-1 critical core analysis

This report discusses the lessons learned from a validation of copper, nickel and iron data in ENDF/B-VJ.2, JEF-2.2 and JENDL-3.2 through an analysis of 97.6 at. % 239pU metal fueled BR-l fast reactor benchmarks. The specifications for the benchmarks in this study were taken from the ICSBEP handbook. The Monte Carlo code MCNP4B and continuous-energy cross-section libraries processed from the above three evaluated nuclear data files were used to perform the critical benchmark calculations. There is reasonable agreement between the predicted keJlvalues and the benchmarks within the uncertainties of measurements and Monte Carlo calculations, with the exception of the JEF-2.2 and JENDL-3.2 results for the copper-reflected core. The JEF-2.2 and JENDL-3.2 data give higher keJlvalues than those of ENDF/B-VI.2 for all the three reflector materials