1887

Utilisation and Reliability of High Power Proton Accelerators

Workshop Proceedings, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, 16-19 May 2004

image of Utilisation and Reliability of High Power Proton Accelerators

Accelerator-driven systems (ADS) are being considered for their potential use in the transmutation of radioactive waste. The performance of such hybrid nuclear systems depends to a large extent on the specification and reliability of high power accelerators, as well as the integration of the accelerator with spallation targets and sub-critical systems. At present, much R&D work is still required in order to demonstrate the desired capability of the system as a whole.

Accelerator scientists and reactor physicists from around the world gathered at an NEA workshop to discuss issues of common interest and to present the most recent achievements in their research. Discussions focused on accelerator reliability; target, window and coolant technology; sub-critical system design and ADS simulations; safety and control of ADS; and ADS experiments and test facilities. These proceedings contain the technical papers presented at the workshop as well as summaries of the working group discussions held. They will be of particular interest to scientists working on ADS development as well as on radioactive waste management issues in general.

English

Thermal Stability of the U-Zr Fuel and its Interfacial Reaction with Lead

Nuclear Energy Agency

The effect of heat treatment on fuel rods at 630°C and 700°C and the interfacial reaction between fuel and lead were investigated. The U-Zr metallic fuel was fabricated by mixing, pressing, sintering and extrusion. There were two kinds of phases – á-Zr precipitates and a ä-UZr2 matrix in the U-Zr metallic fuel. After heat treatment of the extruded rod at 630°C and 700°C, the volume changes of the samples increased slightly and the density variation was negligible. Therefore, it is evident that U-Zr fuels have good thermal stability. The interface between U-55Zr fuel and Pb according to annealing time at 650°C consisted of two distinctive regions – a reaction zone in the vicinity of the surface and an initial zone in the inner area. It should be noted that the thickness of the reaction zone was 26 µm, 36 µm and 46 µm at 100 hrs, 200 hrs and 1 000 hrs, respectively. Also, the reaction zone consisted of an á-Zr layer and a Zr-depleted area.

English

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