skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Accelerator Reactor Coupling for Energy Production in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles

Journal Article · · Reviews of Accelerator Science and Technology
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  3. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

This article is a review of several accelerator–reactor interface issues and nuclear fuel cycle applications of acceleratordriven subcritical systems. The systems considered here have the primary goal of energy production, but that goal is accomplished via a specific application in various proposed nuclear fuel cycles, such as breed-and-burn of fertile material or burning of transuranic material. Several basic principles are reviewed, starting from the proton beam window including the target, blanket, reactor core, and up to the fuel cycle. We focus on issues of interest, such as the impact of the energy required to run the accelerator and associated systems on the potential electricity delivered to the grid. Accelerator-driven systems feature many of the constraints and issues associated with critical reactors, with the added challenges of subcritical operation and coupling to an accelerator. Reliable accelerator operation and avoidance of beam trips are critically important. One interesting challenge is measurement of blanket subcriticality level during operation. We also review the potential benefits of accelerator-driven systems in various nuclear fuel cycle applications. Ultimately, accelerator-driven subcritical systems with the goal of transmutation of transuranic material have lower 100,000-year radioactivity than a critical fast reactor with recycling of uranium and plutonium.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1324069
Journal Information:
Reviews of Accelerator Science and Technology, Vol. 8, Issue 1; ISSN 1793-6268
Publisher:
World ScientificCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Basics of accelerator driven subcritical reactors
  • Nifenecker, H.; David, S.; Loiseaux, J. M.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 463, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(01)00160-7
journal May 2001
Status of SINQ, the only MW spallation neutron source—highlighting target development and industrial applications
  • Wagner, Werner; Dai, Yong; Glasbrenner, Heike
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 562, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2006.02.026
journal June 2006
The MEGAPIE-TEST project: Supporting research and lessons learned in first-of-a-kind spallation target technology journal June 2008
Nuclear energy generation and waste transmutation using an accelerator-driven intense thermal neutron source
  • Bowman, C. D.; Arthur, E. D.; Lisowski, P. W.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 320, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(92)90795-6
journal August 1992
Accelerator-Driven Systems for Nuclear Waste Transmutation journal December 1998
Neutron Transport and Nuclear Burnup Analysis for the Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion-Fission Energy (LIFE) Engine journal August 2009
Physics and technology of spallation neutron sources journal May 2001
Neutronics of pulsed spallation neutron sources journal February 2003
Initial observations of cavitation-induced erosion of liquid metal spallation target vessels at the Spallation Neutron Source journal December 2012

Similar Records

Accelerator–Reactor Coupling for Energy Production in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles
Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Reviews of Accelerator Science and Technology · OSTI ID:1324069
Preliminary Neutronics Design Studies for a Molten Salt Blanket LIFE Engine
Technical Report · Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · OSTI ID:1324069
The Complete Burning of Weapons Grade Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium with (Laser Inertial Fusion-Fission Energy) LIFE Engine
Technical Report · Tue Dec 23 00:00:00 EST 2008 · OSTI ID:1324069

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ADS
Spallation target
Transmutation of waste
Accelerator–reactor interface
Fast reactors.