Development of high intensity D-T fusion neutron generator (HINEG)

A high intensity D-T fusion neutron generator is keenly needed for the research and development of nuclear technology and safety of the advanced nuclear energy system, especially for the radiation protection and shielding. The Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology has launched the High Intensity fusion Neutron Generator (HINEG) project to develop an accelerator-based D-T fusion neutron generator with the neutron yield higher than 10¹⁴-10¹⁵ n/s. The development of HINEG includes two phases: HINEG-I and HINEG-II. HINEG-I is designed to provide a steady beam and a pulsed beam. The neutron yield of the steady beam is up to 10¹² n/s. The width of pulse neutron beam is less than 1.5 ns. HINEG-I is used for the basic neutronics study, such as measurement of nuclear data, validation of neutronics methods and software, validation of radiation protection and so on. HINEG-II aims at generating a high neutron yield of 10¹³ n/s neutrons by adopting high speed rotating tritium target system integrated with jet/spray array enhanced cooling techniques, and can further upgrade to obtain neutron yield of 10¹⁴-10¹⁵ n/s by using an accelerators-array in a later stage. HINEG-II can be used for fundamentals research of nuclear technology including mechanism of materials radiation damage and neutronics performance of components, radiation shielding as well as other nuclear technology applications. (authors)