Transmutation of high-level radioactive waste by a charged-particle accelerator

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Nuclear Technology

OSTI ID:89659

Takahashi, Hiroshi ^[1]

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1. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)

Transmutation of minor actinides and long-lived fission products using a proton accelerator has many advantages over a transmutor operated in a critical condition. The energy required for this transmutation can be reduced by multiplying the spallation neutrons in a subcritical assembly surrounding the spallation target. Study was done on the relation between the energy requirements and the multiplication factor k of the subcritical assembly, while varying the range of several parameters in the spallation target. A slightly subcritical reactor is superior to a reactor with large subcriticality in the context of the energy requirement of a small proton accelerator, the extent of radiation damage, and other safety problems. To transmute the long-lived fission products without consuming much fissile material, the transmutor reactor must have a good neutron economy, which can be obtained by using a transmutor operated by a proton accelerator. Consideration is given to the use of minor actinides to improve neutronic characteristics, such as achieving a long fuel burnup rather than simply transmuting this valuable material.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 89659
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 111; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ACCELERATORS
DESIGN
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYBRID SYSTEMS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
SUBCRITICAL ASSEMBLIES
TRANSMUTATION