Evaluation of a three-dimensional discrete ordinates radiation transport tool for the support of ITER design

ATTILA (TM) is a three-dimensional discrete ordinates radiation transport tool providing a fast and consistent analysis capability for neutron transport problems in technology design. The main advantages over Monte Carlo methods are (i) the solution is provided throughout the entire spatial domain, and (ii) the analysis process is simplified through direct geometry input from engineering design in CAD format. Assessment of this tool for fusion applications is ongoing under the EU fusion programme. Results are presented here for two such applications, performed in support of the ITER project: a complete 40 degrees sector of the machine and the LIDAR laser shielding block. The former requires much larger computational power than the latter, for which results are compared with those of the well-established MCNP code showing good agreement, typically being within 30% of each other. Differences are likely to arise due to the different nuclear data employed. The suitability of Attila for this task is demonstrated. (C) 2007 EURATOM/UKAEA. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.