Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems (WPRS)
Overview
Under the guidance of the Nuclear Science Committee, the Working Party on Scientific Issues of Reactor Systems (WPRS) studies the reactor physics, fuel performance, and radiation transport and shielding in present and future nuclear power systems. The Working Party also studies the uncertainties associated with modelling of these phenomena, particularly the modelling of reactor transient events.
The WPRS's objective is to provide member countries with up-to-date information to preserve knowledge on and develop consensus in the following areas:
-
Fuel performance aspects include:
- Reactor-based Plutonium Disposition
- experiments (International Fuel Performance Experiments database - IFPE)
-
Reactor physics aspects considered include:
- reactivity characteristics and reactivity control
- core power/flux distributions
- fuel depletion
- advanced nuclear systems
- experiments (International Reactor Physics Experiments project - IRPhEP)
-
Radiation transport and shielding aspects include:
- reactor vessel dosimetry
- reactor biological shielding
- accelerator and irradiation facility shielding
- experiments (Shielding Integral Benchmark Archive Database - SINBAD)
-
Uncertainty analysis aspects include:
- coupled neutronics/thermal hydraulics transient modelling
- benchmark comparisons
- sensitivity analysis
-
Reactor types considered include, but are not limited to the following:
- present generation light water reactors (LWRs) with advanced and innovative fuels, evolutionary and innovative LWRs and heavy water reactors (HWRs)
- novel reactor systems (GNEP, Generation IV Systems)
- accelerator-driven (sub-critical) and critical systems for waste transmutation
The WPRS liaises closely with other NEA working groups, especially those operating under the guidance of the Nuclear Development Committee (NDC) and the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) in order to ensure the respective work programmes are complementary and to provide advice and support where required and undertake common work where appropriate. Particularly close working relationships are maintained with the Working Party on the Scientific Issues in Fuel Cycle (WPFC).
Structure
Meetings, Workshops and Conferences
WPRS meetings are held approximately every twelve months. The eight meeting of the WPRS (WPRS08) took place on 01-04 February 2011 at the OECD Headquarters, Paris, France. Meeting documents are available here. (password required )
Access to Expert Groups Working Areas
- Expert Group on Fuel Performance
- Expert Group on Reactor Physics and Advanced Nuclear Systems
- Expert Group on Radiation Transport and Shielding
- Expert Group on Uncertainty Analysis and Modelling
WPRS Membership
| Chair | Kevin W. Hesketh (U.K.) |
| Vice-Chair | Pierre D'hondt (Belgium) |
| Members | All NEA member countries |
| Participation in the work | European Commission (under NEA Statute) |
| International Atomic Energy Agency (by agreement) | |
| Observer | Russian Federation |
For more information, please contact:
Last reviewed: 18 January 2012