In the current paper, we investigate the application of the Equivalent Generalized Perturbation Theory (EGPT) to derive trends and associated covariances on the neutron capture cross section of one major fission product for both light water reactors and sodium-cooled fast reactors which is Rhodium-103. | Application of the EGPT methodology in the analysis of small-sample reactivity worth experiments EPJ Nuclear Sci. Technol. 4 44 2018 Nuclear Sciences P. Leconte et al. published by EDP Sciences 2018 amp Technologies https epjn 2018041 Available online at https REGULAR ARTICLE Application of the EGPT methodology in the analysis of small- sample reactivity worth experiments Pierre Leconte1 Jean Tommasi1 Alain Santamarina2 Patrick Blaise3 and Paul Ros3 1 CEA DEN DER SPRC LEPh Cadarache 13108 Saint Paul-Lez-Durance France 2 CEA DEN DER SPRC Cadarache 13108 Saint Paul-Lez-Durance France 3 CEA DEN DER SPEx LPE Cadarache 13108 Saint Paul-Lez-Durance France Received 3 December 2017 Received in final form 12 February 2018 Accepted 7 June 2018 Abstract. In the current paper we investigate the application of the Equivalent Generalized Perturbation Theory EGPT to derive trends and associated covariances on the neutron capture cross section of one major fission product for both light water reactors and sodium-cooled fast reactors which is Rhodium-103. To do so we have considered the ERMINE-V ZONA1 amp ZONA3 fast spectrum experiment and the MAESTRO thermal- spectrum experiment where samples of these materials were oscillated in the MINERVE facility. In the paper the theoretical formulation of EPGT is described and its derivation in the special case of the close loop oscillation technique where the reactivity worth is determined thanks to a power control system. A numerical benchmark is presented to assess the relevance of sensitivity coefficients provided by EGPT against direct perturbations where the microscopic cross sections are manually changed before calculating the adjoint and forward flux. The breakdown between direct and indirect contributions in the sensitivity analysis of the sample reactivity worth is presented and discussed with the impact of using a calibration reference sample to normalize the measured reactivity worth. Finally the .
