Neutron source, linear-accelerator fuel enricher and regenerator and associated methods. [Patent application]

Patent · Thu Oct 04 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5116517

Steinberg, M; Powell, J R; Takahashi, H; Grand, P; Kouts, H

A device for producing fissile material inside of fabricated nuclear elements so that they can be used to produce power in nuclear power reactors is described. Fuel elements, for example, of a LWR are placed in pressure tubes in a vessel surrounding a liquid lead-bismuth flowing columnar target. A linear-accelerator proton beam enters the side of the vessel and impinges on the dispersed liquid lead-bismuth columns and produces neutrons which radiate through the surrounding pressure tube assembly or blanket containing the nuclear fuel elements. These neutrons are absorbed by the natural fertile uranium-238 elements and are transformed to fissile plutonium-239. The fertile fuel is thus enriched in fissile material to a concentration whereby they can be used in power reactors. After use in the power reactors, dispensed depleted fuel elements can be reinserted into the pressure tubes surrounding the target and the nuclear fuel regenerated for further burning in the power reactor.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• OSTI ID: 5116517
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400703 -- Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry-- Radioisotope Production
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BARYON REACTIONS
BARYONS
BEAMS
BISMUTH
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HADRON REACTIONS
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
ISOTOPES
LEAD
METALS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEON BEAMS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
PROTON BEAMS
PROTON REACTIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
URANIUM 238
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES