| Chair(s): |
Hakim FERROUKHI, Switzerland |
Secretary: |
Davide MANCUSI (davide.mancusi@oecd-nea.org) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member(s): | All NEA member countries* | ||
| Russia (Suspended*) | |||
| *Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council. | |||
| EU participation: |
The European Union (EU) takes part in the work of the NEA, in accordance with the NEA Statute and the Supplementary Protocol to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. | ||
| Observer(s)(International Organisation): |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) By agreement | ||
| Date of creation: | 01 April 2021 | ||
| End of mandate: | 31 March 2028 |
Mandate (Document reference):
Mandate (Document extract):
Extract from document [NEA/NSC/WPRS(2025)3]
Background
As a result of the first prioritisation process, a reorganisation of the Nuclear Science Committee (NSC) activities was performed in 2020-2021 under the guidance of the NSC Bureau. This has resulted in the disbandment of the NSC Expert Group on Multi-Physics Experimental Data, Benchmarks and Validation (EGMPEBV), the Expert Group on Radiation Transport and Shielding (EGRTS), the Expert Group on Reactor Physics and Advanced Nuclear Systems (EGRPANS) and the Expert Group on Uncertainty Analysis in Modelling (EGUAM). Two new bodies have been created to replace them: the Expert Group on Physics of Reactor Systems (EGPRS) and the Expert Group on Reactor Systems Multi-Physics (EGMUP).
Under the guidance of the Working Party on Scientific Issues and Uncertainty Analysis of Reactor Systems (WPRS), the Expert Group on Physics of Reactor Systems (EGPRS) will perform specific tasks associated with neutronics, radiation transport, reactor physics and nuclear fuel feedback along with uncertainty analysis of present and future nuclear power systems.
Reactor types considered include, but are not limited to the following:
The objective of the EGPRS is to provide expert advice to the WPRS and the nuclear/accelerator community on the development needs (data and methods, validation experiments, scenario studies) for neutronics, fuel feedback, and radiation transport issues of different reactor systems, accelerators, irradiation, and fusion systems.
The fulfilment of this objective notably entails providing specific technical information on:
This technical information will generally be derived from a combination of direct experimental evidence and/or the results of theoretical benchmark analyses using accurate, validated modelling and simulation (M&S) methods. In either case, the availability of suitable experimental data is a fundamental requirement. The EGPRS will monitor gaps and provide input to the development of the International Radiation Shielding Experiments Database (SINBAD) by the SINBAD Technical Review Group (SINBADTRG).
The EGPRS will report to the WPRS. The EGPRS will meet once per year, with additional meetings in support of particular activities such as task forces reporting to the EGPRS.
Deliverables of the EGPRS will be developed in task or benchmark groups, whose work will be organised in a project-like manner with outcomes and milestones.
The EGPRS will maintain close collaboration with the Expert Group on Reactor Systems Multi-Physics (EGMUP), the SINBAD Technical Review Group (SINBADTRG), the Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Co-operation (WPEC), the Working Party on Materials Science Issues in Nuclear Fuels and Structural Materials (WPFM), as well as the Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety (WPNCS). Close links will be maintained with other data preservation projects, notably the International Reactor Physics Experiments Evaluation Project Technical Review Group (IRPhETRG) and the Technical Review Group for the International Criticality Safety Benchmarks Evaluation Project (ICSBEPTRG), as well as with the International Fuel Performance Experiments (IFPE) database supervised by Expert Group on Fuel Materials (EGFM). The EGPRS should also work in co-ordination with the Joint Evaluated Fission and Fusion Nuclear Data Library Co-ordination Group (JEFF) under the Management Board for the Development, Application and Validation of Nuclear Data and Codes (MBDAV) and with the Shielding Aspects of Accelerators, Targets and Irradiation Facilities (SATIF) community of accelerator shielding specialists. Where required, the EGPRS will provide safety scenario studies for advanced systems and fuels. In this context, it will liaise closely with the Working Party on Scientific Issues of Advanced Fuel Cycles (WPFC).
The deliverables of EGPRS are technical reports, proceedings of seminars or workshops, state-of-the-art reports, and technical or collective opinion papers, and comparison or benchmark studies. This work will be done in task or benchmark groups, whose work will be organised in a project-like manner with outcomes and milestones. The EGPRS will also organise specialist meetings and workshops to further its objectives. The detailed list of deliverables will be tracked in the semi-annual NSC progress reports.
Priority for the 2026-2028 period is given to the finalization of the benchmarks and developments set forth hereunder:
