The physics of accelerator driven sub-critical reactors

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increasing worldwide interest in accelerator driven systems (ADS) due to their perceived superior safety characteristics and their potential for burning actinides and long-lived fission products. Indian interest in ADS has an additional dimension, which is related to our planned large-scale thorium utilization for future nuclear energy generation.The physics of ADS is quite different from that of critical reactors. As such, physics studies on ADS reactors are necessary for gaining an understanding of these systems. Development of theoretical tools and experimental facilities for studying the physics of ADS reactors constitute important aspect of the ADS development program at BARC. This includes computer codes for burnup studies based on transport theory and Monte Carlo methods, codes for studying the kinetics of ADS and sub-critical facilities driven by 14 MeV neutron generators for ADS experiments and development of sub-criticality measurement methods. The paper discusses the physics issues specific to ADS reactors and presents the status of the reactor physics program and some of the ADS concepts under study.

Evaluation of subcritical hybrid systems loaded with reprocessed fuel

“…For the system 2 was: fusion source, evaporation source and fission chain reaction with a startup neutron source. The fission power for an ADS system was calculated according to (Degweker et al, 2007), as presented in the Eq. (2)…”

Study on the basic of spallation target for accelerator driven system

“…It has been already known that Accelerator Driven System (ADS) is a subcritical assembly combined with a high-power proton accelerator. Many countries around the world are attracted to do research and development of ADS because ADS is safer compared to a critical nuclear reactor, moreover, it can be used for transmuting the waste of actinide and fission products, and it also produces energy [1] [2].…”

Steady-state neutronic analysis of converting the UK CONSORT reactor for ADS experiments

“…Accelerator-driven systems (ADS) are subcritical reactors in which the external neutron source may allow operation with inherent safety (Degweker et al (2007)), and the improved neutron economy enables applications in fuel…”

“…Accelerator-driven systems (ADS) are subcritical reactors in which the external neutron source may allow operation with inherent safety (Degweker et al (2007)), and the improved neutron economy enables applications in fuel breeding (particularly for Thorium-based fuels) and for actinide management to reduce long-lived waste (Wilson (1976), Bowman (1992), Daniel and Petrov (1996), Nifenecker et al (1999)). The so-called 'Energy Amplifier' has been proposed as a combination of all these features in a subcritical lead-cooled fast reactor with solid fuel elements, in which fast neutrons are generated in a single central spallation target and delivered to a core-blanket arrangement within which actinide burning is achieved via slow crossing of absorption resonances during small-lethargy scatters (Carminati et al (1993), Rubbia et al (1995)).…”