A Fast Neutron Source for Material Irradiation using a Superconducting Electron Linac
- Niowave, Inc.
Next generation reactor R&D aims to produce safer, longer lasting and economically viable nuclear power plants. New designs rely on novel materials that are resistant to both corrosive environments and radiation damage. Fast neutron fluxes greater than 10^14 n/cm2s are required for in-situ radiation damage studies, whereas, fluxes greater than 10^15 n/cm2s are required for radiation damage studies with significant displacements per atom (DPA). Niowave, in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), developed an accelerator-based neutron source capable of producing intense fast neutron flux in small volumes (i.e., dog-bone specimens) to address these needs. In this system, a high energy electron beam from a superconducting electron accelerator impinges on a flowing high temperature liquid metal target converting electrons to fission like fast neutrons. This high-power lead bismuth eutectic (LBE) neutron converter uses forced-flow liquid LBE to absorb and convert high power electrons to neutrons. Lead and bismuth are efficient photoneutron converters and the thermal-hydraulic properties of the eutectic can help dissipate heat effectively when operating at higher power. Addition of small quantities of uranium can increase the neutron flux significantly. The electron linac specification for the proposed fluxes requires a 40 MeV electron beam with beam powers over 50 kW. This accelerator energy and power level is within the capabilities of superconducting linacs under development at Niowave. This system is capable of producing required flux levels for low level material damage studies.
- Research Organization:
- Niowave, Inc., Lansing, MI (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0011355
- OSTI ID:
- 1532369
- Type / Phase:
- STTR (Phase IIA)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-NIOW-11355
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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