Nuclear energy generation and waste transmutation using an accelerator-driven intense thermal neutron source

Conference · Sun Jun 16 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(92)90795-6· OSTI ID:5349222

Bowman, C. D. ^[1]; Arthur, E. D. ^[1]; Lisowski, P. W. ^[1]; Lawrence, G. P. ^[1]; Jensen, R. J. ^[1]; Anderson, J. L. ^[1]; Blind, B. ^[1]; Cappiello, M. ^[1]; Davidson, J. W. ^[1]; England, T. R. ^[1]; Engel, L. N. ^[1]; Haight, R. C. ^[1]; Hughes, H. G. ^[1]; Ireland, J. R. ^[1]; Krakowski, R. A. ^[1]; LaBauve, R. J. ^[1]; Letellier, B. C. ^[1]; Perry, R. T. ^[1]; Russell, G. J. ^[1]; Staudhammer, K. P. ^[1] ; Versamis, G. ^[1]; Wilson, W. B. ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

We describe a new approach for commercial nuclear energy production without a long-term high-level waste stream and for transmutation of both fission product and higher actinide commercial nuclear waste using a thermal flux of accelerator-produced neutrons in the 10¹⁶ n/cm²s range. Continuous neutron fluxes at this intensity, which is approximately 100 times larger than is typically available in a large scale thermal reactor, appear practical, owing to recent advances in proton linear accelerator technology and to the spallation target-moderator design presented here. This large flux of thermal neutrons makes possible a waste inventory in the transmutation system which is smaller by about a factor of 100 than competing concepts. The accelerator allows the system to operate well below criticality so that the possibility for a criticality accident is eliminated. No control rods are required. The successful implementation of this new method for energy generation and waste transmutation would eliminate the need for nuclear waste storage on a geologic time scale. The production of nuclear energy from ²³²Th or ²³⁸U is used to illustrate the general principles of commercial nuclear energy, production without long-term high-level waste. There appears to be sufficient thorium to meet the world's energy needs for many millenia.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5349222
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--91-2601; CONF-910626--10; ON: DE91018019
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Journal Issue: 1-2 Journal Volume: 320
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
ACCELERATORS
BARYONS
COST
DESIGN
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FISSION PRODUCTS
HADRONS
ISOTOPES
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE SOURCES
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
THERMAL NEUTRONS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSMUTATION
WASTE MANAGEMENT