Comparative analysis of neutron sources produced by low-energy electrons and deuterons for driving subcritical assemblies

A conceptual design of an accelerator driven subcritical assembly has been developed using the existing accelerators at Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology (KIPT) in Ukraine. Two different external neutron source options were examined for driving the subcritical assembly. Electrons with energies below 200 MeV and deuterons with energies below 100 MeV were considered. Comparative analysis of these two options is presented and discussed. The Comparative analysis of neutron sources produced by low-energy electrons and deuterons show that: (1) An electron accelerator with electron energy in the range of 150 to 200 MeV is preferred for producing neutron source; (2) The uranium target material produces the highest neutron yield per electron; (3) The uranium target with 100 KW electron beam produces 3.3 x 1014 n/s; (4) The thermal hydraulics analyses of the uranium target operating with the 100 KW electron beam power satisfy the engineering design requirements; and (5) The peak thermal stresses (secondary stress) is less than the yield strength of the uranium target material.