Under the guidance of the Nuclear Science Committee (NSC), 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 the 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 physics aspects considered include:
Radiation transport and shielding aspects include:
Reactor core thermal-hydraulics aspects include:
Uncertainty analysis aspects include:
Prior to the creation of the WPRS, a number of reactor physics benchmarks were undertaken.
Reactor types considered include, but are not limited to the following:
The WPRS liaises closely with other NEA working groups, especially those operating under the guidance of the Committee for Technical and Economic Studies on Nuclear Energy Development and the Fuel Cycle (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 Scientific Issues of the Fuel Cycle (WPFC), the Working Party on Multi-scale Modelling of Fuels and Structural Materials for Nuclear Systems (WPMM) and other relevant NSC working parties.
WPRS and associated Expert Group meetings are held approximately every twelve months. The last meetings were held in February 2020. For more information, please contact Ian Hill
The next meetings will be held during the week of 15 February 2021. Visit the WPRS members' area under the membership information below.
Chair: Kostadin Ivanov (USA)
Vice-Chair: Hakim Ferroukhi (SUI)
Members: All NEA member countries
Full participant: European Commission (under the NEA Statute)
Observer (international organisation): International Atomic Energy Agency (by agreement)
WPRS members (password protected | reminder)