MYRRHA - A multipurpose accelerator driven system for R and D. State of the project at the end of 2003

By mid-2002, the MYRRHA predesign file had been submitted to an International Technical Guidance Committee (ITGC) to review the predesign phase achieved for the MYRRHA project. This international panel consisted of experts from research reactor designers, reactor safety authorities and spallation target specialists. The conclusions and recommendations of this panel were as follows: - No show stoppers identified in the project; - More attention given to safety case studies and iteration to the predesign before entering the detailed engineering phase; - Some R and D topics to be addressed that can lead to timing bottlenecks very soon, such as fuel pin and assembly development and qualification; - A decision made on the accelerator option (cyclotron versus LINAC) and, eventually, beam parameters to be revisited. The MYRRHA team responded to the worries expressed above by the ITGC and worked further on the development of the project. MYRRHA is responding to the objectives of the XADS facility in terms of demonstration and performance, and responding by design to some key issues related to the LBE ADS, such as: - The LBE corrosion by leaving the majority of the system at 'cold' conditions and limiting the LBE velocity below 2.5 m/s; - Criticality control during core loading by leaving the spallation target in position and loading from underneath; - Avoiding spallation target window break by choosing the windowless design; - Addressing the ISI and R and the O and M from the conceptual design by means of robotics and ultrasonic visualization. MYRRHA is a challenging facility from many points of view and it will trigger a renewal of R and D activities within the fission community. Its development will attract young talented researchers and engineers looking for challenges. It will be a new irradiation facility for research and development in Europe for future innovative energy systems