Minor actinide transmutation in ADS: the EFIT core design

摘要

Accelerator-Driven-Systems represent one of the possible future strategies for transmuting minor actinides. EFIT, the conceptual industrial burner designed in EUROTRANS IP, is an ADS of about 400 MWth, fuelled by MA and Pu in inert matrix, cooled by lead (673-753 K) and sustained by a 800 MeV proton of some 15 mA. It features the MA fission (42 kg/TWhth) while maintaining a zero net balance of Pu and a negligible kjff swing during the cycle. Three radial zones, differing in pin diameter or in inert matrix percentage have been defined in order to maximize the average power density together with the flattening of the assembly coolant outlet temperatures. Thermal-hydraulic analyses have been performed and show acceptable maximum temperatures: 1672 K peak fuel temperature (disintegration at 2150 K) and 812 K peak cladding temperature in nominal conditions (max 823 K). The behaviour of the core power, the temperature and the reactivity during the Unprotected Loss Of Flow transient (ULOF) has been studied as well by obtaining: a peak fuel temperature of 1860 K, a peak cladding temperature of 1030 K, a power increase of 2% removed by natural circulation.