Book Description
Reactor safety, the disposal of high-level nuclear waste, and nonproliferation of nuclear material for military purposes are the problems of greatest concern for nuclear energy. Technologies for accelerators developed in the field of high-energy physics can contribute to solving these problems. For reactor safety, especially for that of a Na-cooled fast reactor, the use of an accelerator, even a small one, can enhance the safety using a slightly subcritical reactor. There is growing concern about how we can deal with weapons-grade Pu, and about the large amount of Pu accumulating from the operation of commercial reactors. It has been suggested that this Pu could be incinerated, using the reactor and a proton accelerator. However, because Pu is a very valuable material with future potential for generating nuclear energy, we should consider transforming it into a proliferation-resistant material that cannot be used for making bombs, rather than simply eliminating the Pu. An accelerator-driven fast reactor (700 MWt), run in a subcritical condition, and fueled with MOX can generate 233U more safely and efficiently than can a critical reactor. We evaluate the production of 233U, 239Pu, and the transmutation of the long-lived fission products of 99Tc and 129I, which are loaded with YH{sub 1.7} between the fast core and blanket, by reducing the conversion factor of Pu to 233U. And we assessed the rates of radiation damage, hydrogen production, and helium production in a target window and in the surrounding vessel.