Conceptual design study of accelerator-driven systems for nuclear waste transmutation

Accelerator-driven system concepts for nuclear waste transmutation are under investigation at the Japan Atomic Energy Institute (JAERI) under the Japanese long-term program for research and development on nuclide partitioning and transmutation technology (OMEGA program). Two types of accelerator-driven system concepts, solid system and molten salt system, have been proposed as dedicated transmutation systems with hard neutron spectra to incinerate minor actinides (MAs) efficiently. Neutronics and thermal hydraulics were made for the nitride fuel solid system concept. Nitride is selected mainly on the basis of its good thermal performance and compatibility with dry processing. The reference molten salt system employs a chloride molten salt with a composition of 64NaCl-36(Pu, MA)Cl3. Lead-based molten salt is also explored for purpose of comparison with sodium-based molten salt. Critical research needs to establish the technical feasibility of an accelerator driven transmutation system are being assessed to set up the program plan of engineering tests using an intense proton linear accelerator proposed by JAERI. 7 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs