ITER full model in MCNP for radiation safety demonstration

R. Juarez; M. Belotti; A. Kolsek; V. López; J. Alguacil; G. Pedroche; A. J. López-Revelles; P. Martínez-Albertos; M. De Pietri; P. Guijosa; Y. Le Tonqueze; M. J. Loughlin; E. Polunovskiy; R. Pampin; M. Fabbri; J. Sanz

doi:10.1038/s41467-024-52667-x

ITER full model in MCNP for radiation safety demonstration

R. Juarez
, M. Belotti
, A. Kolsek
, V. López
, J. Alguacil
, G. Pedroche
, A. J. López-Revelles
, P. Martínez-Albertos
, M. De Pietri
, P. Guijosa
, Y. Le Tonqueze
, M. J. Loughlin
, E. Polunovskiy
, R. Pampin
, M. Fabbri
, J. Sanz

Radiation Transport and HPC Methods

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The development of nuclear fusion as a safe and virtually limitless power source is receiving growing attention in the context of looming energy crisis and climate change. ITER project stands as the flagship international initiative and is advancing steadily. The construction of the Tokamak Complex is nearly finished, and the assembly of core components has begun on site. Simultaneously, the design is being finalized, and the safety case is becoming more concrete. Current approaches to radiation safety demonstration using 3D nuclear analysis with the Monte Carlo code MCNP require sophisticated artifacts to sew together simulations in separate models for the Tokamak and the rest of the facility. This results in cumbersome studies and, consequently, challengeable conclusions. To address this issue, we have built the an integral MCNP model of the ITER facility: the ITER full model. Along with improvements to the D1SUNED code, we illustrate its computational practicality and pertinence in two meaningful simulations for ITER safety case. This work represents the culmination of a two-decade-long effort of ITER modelling aiming to demonstrate adequate radiation safety. Beyond supporting the remaining design tasks, this model simplifies the corresponding 3D nuclear analysis and improves the robustness of the ITER safety case.

Original language	English
Article number	8563
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	15
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52667-x
State	Published - Dec 2024

Funding

This work was carried out using an adaption of the C-model MCNP model that was developed as a collaborative effort between the AMEC company (international), Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (United Kingdom), Frascati Research Centre of the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (Italy), FDS Team of the Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology (People’s Republic of China), ITER Organization (France), Japan Atomic Energy Agency in Naka (Japan), National Distance Education University (UNED) (Spain), Fusion for Energy (Spain) and University of Wisconsin–Madison (United States). This work was performed under ITER contract IO/19/CT/43-1948 between the ITER Organization and the consortium consisting of UNED and the companies Orano project and Jacobs (R.J., M.B., A.K., V.L., J.A., G.P., A.J.L.-R., P.M., M.D., P.G., J.S.). We appreciate the support given by the Comunidad de Madrid for funding under I+D en Tecnologías (TECHNOFUSIÓN (III)-CM, project S2018/EMT-4437) (R.J., M.B., A.K., V.L., J.A., G.P., A.J.L.-R., P.M., M.D., P.G., J.S.), by the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales-UNED 2022 program (R.J., M.B., A.K., V.L., J.A., G.P., A.J.L.-R., P.M., M.D., P.G., J.S.), and by UNED for funding of the predoctoral contract (Formación Personal Investigador) (P.M., M.D., P.G.). We also appreciate the support given by the Ministry of Universities and the European Union—Next Generation EU for the funding of the “Ayudas Margarita Salas” contracts (G.P., J.A.). The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Fusion for Energy or of the ITER Organization. Neither of these institutions nor any person acting on their behalf is responsible for the use that might have been made of the information in this publication. The content of this paper does not commit the ITER Organization to being a nuclear operator. We would like to thank Fabio Crameri for providing the Scientific color maps.

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Juarez, R., Belotti, M., Kolsek, A., López, V., Alguacil, J., Pedroche, G., López-Revelles, A. J., Martínez-Albertos, P., De Pietri, M., Guijosa, P., Le Tonqueze, Y., Loughlin, M. J., Polunovskiy, E., Pampin, R., Fabbri, M., & Sanz, J. (2024). ITER full model in MCNP for radiation safety demonstration. Nature Communications, 15(1), Article 8563. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52667-x

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abstract = "The development of nuclear fusion as a safe and virtually limitless power source is receiving growing attention in the context of looming energy crisis and climate change. ITER project stands as the flagship international initiative and is advancing steadily. The construction of the Tokamak Complex is nearly finished, and the assembly of core components has begun on site. Simultaneously, the design is being finalized, and the safety case is becoming more concrete. Current approaches to radiation safety demonstration using 3D nuclear analysis with the Monte Carlo code MCNP require sophisticated artifacts to sew together simulations in separate models for the Tokamak and the rest of the facility. This results in cumbersome studies and, consequently, challengeable conclusions. To address this issue, we have built the an integral MCNP model of the ITER facility: the ITER full model. Along with improvements to the D1SUNED code, we illustrate its computational practicality and pertinence in two meaningful simulations for ITER safety case. This work represents the culmination of a two-decade-long effort of ITER modelling aiming to demonstrate adequate radiation safety. Beyond supporting the remaining design tasks, this model simplifies the corresponding 3D nuclear analysis and improves the robustness of the ITER safety case.",

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Juarez, R, Belotti, M, Kolsek, A, López, V, Alguacil, J, Pedroche, G, López-Revelles, AJ, Martínez-Albertos, P, De Pietri, M, Guijosa, P, Le Tonqueze, Y, Loughlin, MJ, Polunovskiy, E, Pampin, R, Fabbri, M & Sanz, J 2024, 'ITER full model in MCNP for radiation safety demonstration', Nature Communications, vol. 15, no. 1, 8563. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52667-x

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AU - Belotti, M.

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AU - Pedroche, G.

AU - López-Revelles, A. J.

AU - Martínez-Albertos, P.

AU - De Pietri, M.

AU - Guijosa, P.

AU - Le Tonqueze, Y.

AU - Loughlin, M. J.

AU - Polunovskiy, E.

AU - Pampin, R.

AU - Fabbri, M.

AU - Sanz, J.

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N2 - The development of nuclear fusion as a safe and virtually limitless power source is receiving growing attention in the context of looming energy crisis and climate change. ITER project stands as the flagship international initiative and is advancing steadily. The construction of the Tokamak Complex is nearly finished, and the assembly of core components has begun on site. Simultaneously, the design is being finalized, and the safety case is becoming more concrete. Current approaches to radiation safety demonstration using 3D nuclear analysis with the Monte Carlo code MCNP require sophisticated artifacts to sew together simulations in separate models for the Tokamak and the rest of the facility. This results in cumbersome studies and, consequently, challengeable conclusions. To address this issue, we have built the an integral MCNP model of the ITER facility: the ITER full model. Along with improvements to the D1SUNED code, we illustrate its computational practicality and pertinence in two meaningful simulations for ITER safety case. This work represents the culmination of a two-decade-long effort of ITER modelling aiming to demonstrate adequate radiation safety. Beyond supporting the remaining design tasks, this model simplifies the corresponding 3D nuclear analysis and improves the robustness of the ITER safety case.

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ER -

ITER full model in MCNP for radiation safety demonstration

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