Chapter 9
Accelerator-Driven System (ADS) Study
in Kyoto University Research Reactor
Institute (KURRI)
Cheol Ho Pyeon
Abstract Experimental studies on the uranium- and thorium-loaded acceleratordriven system (ADS) are being conducted for basic research of nuclear transmutation analyses with the combined use of the core at the Kyoto University Critical
Assembly (KUCA) and the fixed-field alternating gradient (FFAG; 100 MeV protons) accelerator in the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute. The ADS
experiments with 100 MeV protons were carried out to investigate the neutronic
characteristics of ADS, and the static and kinetic parameters were accurately
analyzed through both the measurements and the Monte Carlo simulations of
reactor physics parameters. An upcoming ADS at KUCA could be composed of
highly enriched uranium fuel and Pb-Bi material, and the reaction rate ratio
analyses (
237
Np and
241 Am) of nuclear transmutation could be conducted in the
ADS (hard spectrum core) at KUCA. The neutronic characteristics of Pb-Bi are
expected to be examined through reactor physics experiments at KUCA with the
use of solid Pb-Bi materials at the target and in the core.
Keywords 100 MeV protons • ADS • FFAG accelerator • KUCA • Spallation
neutrons • Tungsten target
9.1 Introduction
The accelerator-driven system (ADS) has been considered as an innovative system
for the nuclear transmutation of minor actinides and long-lived fission products
with the use of spallation neutrons obtained from the injection of high-energy
protons into a heavy metal target. At the Kyoto University Critical Assembly
(KUCA), a series of ADS experiments [1–5] was carried out by coupling with the
fixed-field alternating gradient (FFAG) accelerator [6–8], and the spallation
C.H. Pyeon (*)
Nuclear Engineering Science Division, Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University,
Asashiro-nishi, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 590-0494, Japan
e-mail: pyeon@rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp
© The Author(s) 2015
K. Nakajima (ed.), Nuclear Back-end and Transmutation Technology for Waste
Disposal, DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55111-9_9
81
Accelerator-Driven System (ADS) Study
in Kyoto University Research Reactor
Institute (KURRI)
Cheol Ho Pyeon
Abstract Experimental studies on the uranium- and thorium-loaded acceleratordriven system (ADS) are being conducted for basic research of nuclear transmutation analyses with the combined use of the core at the Kyoto University Critical
Assembly (KUCA) and the fixed-field alternating gradient (FFAG; 100 MeV protons) accelerator in the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute. The ADS
experiments with 100 MeV protons were carried out to investigate the neutronic
characteristics of ADS, and the static and kinetic parameters were accurately
analyzed through both the measurements and the Monte Carlo simulations of
reactor physics parameters. An upcoming ADS at KUCA could be composed of
highly enriched uranium fuel and Pb-Bi material, and the reaction rate ratio
analyses (
237
Np and
241 Am) of nuclear transmutation could be conducted in the
ADS (hard spectrum core) at KUCA. The neutronic characteristics of Pb-Bi are
expected to be examined through reactor physics experiments at KUCA with the
use of solid Pb-Bi materials at the target and in the core.
Keywords 100 MeV protons • ADS • FFAG accelerator • KUCA • Spallation
neutrons • Tungsten target
9.1 Introduction
The accelerator-driven system (ADS) has been considered as an innovative system
for the nuclear transmutation of minor actinides and long-lived fission products
with the use of spallation neutrons obtained from the injection of high-energy
protons into a heavy metal target. At the Kyoto University Critical Assembly
(KUCA), a series of ADS experiments [1–5] was carried out by coupling with the
fixed-field alternating gradient (FFAG) accelerator [6–8], and the spallation
C.H. Pyeon (*)
Nuclear Engineering Science Division, Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University,
Asashiro-nishi, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 590-0494, Japan
e-mail: pyeon@rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp
© The Author(s) 2015
K. Nakajima (ed.), Nuclear Back-end and Transmutation Technology for Waste
Disposal, DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-55111-9_9
81