Book Description
Researchers at Los Alamos have been developing transmutation concepts involving accelerator-driven nuclear systems. A medium energy, high current proton beam strikes a heavy metal target, producing a high flux of spallation neutrons. These neutrons are moderated to near-thermal energies in a blanket surrounding the target. Materials to be transmuted flow through the blanket region where they are fissioned or transmuted to stable nuclides. Stable or short-lived nuclides are separated while the long-lived radioactive species are returned to the blanket. For most applications the fission energy produced is much greater than that required to power the accelerator and can be directed to the commercial power grid. A number of possible applications are envisioned for accelerator-driven nuclear systems. These include destruction of surplus weapons-grade plutonium, production of tritium, transmutation of commercial spent fuel, and even commercial power generation in next-generation nuclear power plants. Some of these applications will be discussed with particular emphasis on the required chemical separations for such systems.
