Neutron source, linear-accelerator fuel enricher and regenerator and associated methods
A device for producing fissile material inside of fabricated nuclear elements so that they can be used to produce power in nuclear power reactors. 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:
- Department of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4309249
- Application Number:
- TRN: 82-011686
- OSTI ID:
- 5361511
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 4 Oct 1979; Other Information: PAT-APPL-081988
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
NUCLEAR FUEL CONVERSION
SPENT FUELS
FERTILE MATERIALS
FISSILE MATERIALS
FUEL ELEMENTS
NEUTRON SOURCE FACILITIES
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
PLUTONIUM 239
PROTON SOURCES
URANIUM 238
WATER COOLED REACTORS
ACCELERATORS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUELS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEI
PARTICLE SOURCES
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
430100* - Particle Accelerators- Design
Development
& Operation
220300 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Fuel Elements