A preliminary study has been performed to evaluate the promise of accelerator breeding and converter reactor symbiotic systems (ABACS) as an alternate fission power technology which can make full utilization of the energy content of uranium and thorium ores. ABACS is, therefore, considered as an alternative to fast breeder reactors for extending our energy supply An explanation is given of the fundamentals of accelerator breeding in which U233 or Pu239 fissile fuel is produced in a target/blanket system as a result of irradiation with an intense high-energy proton beam. Neutronics and heat transfer analyses are performed for three accelerator breeder concepts based on technologies of the liquid metal fast breeder, molten salt, and gas-cooled fast breeder reactors. Several converter reactors are considered, and the mass flows and economics of the complete symbiosis are presented.
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