Safety approach for the APT [sup 3]He target/blanket system

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:6908436

Rose, Jr, S C ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

In the accelerator production of tritium (APT) [sup 3]He target/blanket concept, which Los Alamos National Laboratory and Babcock Wilcox Company are developing, [sup 3]He is circulated through a heavy-water (D20) moderator that surrounds a tungsten target. The target produces high-energy neutrons through the spallation process when accelerator-driven, high-energy (1-GeV) protons strike it. As neutrons are produced in the target and the surrounding lead multiplier region, they escape and are moderated to thermal energies. These thermalized neutrons are captured by the [sup 3]He nuclei to produce tritium. A small sidestream containing [sup 3]He and tritium is continually removed from the target/blanket system, is processed, and is reinjected. The continuous processing ensures that there is only a small inventory of tritium (several, grams) in the target/blanket system at any one time, which is a significant safety advantage in the event of an accident. The tungsten target will become radioactive with the production of spallation nuclides, and tritium will be generated in the [sup 3]He blanket and the D[sub 2]O. The radioactive inventory is small compared with a reactor, but a comprehensive safety approach with engineered safety systems is being developed to prevent and mitigate the consequences of potential accidents. The purpose of this paper is to describe the general safety approach for the APT [sup 3]He target/blanket system.

• OSTI ID: 6908436
• Report Number(s): CONF-931160--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Journal Volume: 69
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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