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Title: Accelerator Reactor Coupling for Energy Production in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles

Abstract

This article is a review of several accelerator–reactor interface issues and nuclear fuel cycle applications of acceleratordriven subcritical systems. The systems considered here have the primary goal of energy production, but that goal is accomplished via a specific application in various proposed nuclear fuel cycles, such as breed-and-burn of fertile material or burning of transuranic material. Several basic principles are reviewed, starting from the proton beam window including the target, blanket, reactor core, and up to the fuel cycle. We focus on issues of interest, such as the impact of the energy required to run the accelerator and associated systems on the potential electricity delivered to the grid. Accelerator-driven systems feature many of the constraints and issues associated with critical reactors, with the added challenges of subcritical operation and coupling to an accelerator. Reliable accelerator operation and avoidance of beam trips are critically important. One interesting challenge is measurement of blanket subcriticality level during operation. We also review the potential benefits of accelerator-driven systems in various nuclear fuel cycle applications. Ultimately, accelerator-driven subcritical systems with the goal of transmutation of transuranic material have lower 100,000-year radioactivity than a critical fast reactor with recycling of uranium and plutonium.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  3. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1324069
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Reviews of Accelerator Science and Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1793-6268
Publisher:
World Scientific
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; ADS; Spallation target; Transmutation of waste; Accelerator–reactor interface; Fast reactors.

Citation Formats

Brown, Nicholas R., Heidet, Florent, and Haj Tahar, Malek. Accelerator Reactor Coupling for Energy Production in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1142/S1793626815300066.
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Brown, Nicholas R., Heidet, Florent, & Haj Tahar, Malek. Accelerator Reactor Coupling for Energy Production in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles. United States. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793626815300066
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Brown, Nicholas R., Heidet, Florent, and Haj Tahar, Malek. Fri . "Accelerator Reactor Coupling for Energy Production in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles". United States. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793626815300066. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1324069.
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@article{osti_1324069,
title = {Accelerator Reactor Coupling for Energy Production in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles},
author = {Brown, Nicholas R. and Heidet, Florent and Haj Tahar, Malek},
abstractNote = {This article is a review of several accelerator–reactor interface issues and nuclear fuel cycle applications of acceleratordriven subcritical systems. The systems considered here have the primary goal of energy production, but that goal is accomplished via a specific application in various proposed nuclear fuel cycles, such as breed-and-burn of fertile material or burning of transuranic material. Several basic principles are reviewed, starting from the proton beam window including the target, blanket, reactor core, and up to the fuel cycle. We focus on issues of interest, such as the impact of the energy required to run the accelerator and associated systems on the potential electricity delivered to the grid. Accelerator-driven systems feature many of the constraints and issues associated with critical reactors, with the added challenges of subcritical operation and coupling to an accelerator. Reliable accelerator operation and avoidance of beam trips are critically important. One interesting challenge is measurement of blanket subcriticality level during operation. We also review the potential benefits of accelerator-driven systems in various nuclear fuel cycle applications. Ultimately, accelerator-driven subcritical systems with the goal of transmutation of transuranic material have lower 100,000-year radioactivity than a critical fast reactor with recycling of uranium and plutonium.},
doi = {10.1142/S1793626815300066},
journal = {Reviews of Accelerator Science and Technology},
number = 1,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793626815300066
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Works referenced in this record:

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journal, May 2001

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