Electronuclear Conversion of Fertile to Fissile Material.

摘要

The electronuclear conversion of fertile to fissile material by accelerator-produced neutrons is discussed. Experimental and theoretical results obtained in the MTA program (1949--1954) on the production of low-energy (less than 20-MeV) neutrons by high-energy proton,deuteron,and neutron bombardment of target materials are briefly reviewed. More recent calculations of the cascade process,by which the low-energy neutrons are produced,are discussed. A system is described by which 500-to 600-MeV deuterons incident on a lithium primary target can be converted to high-energy neutrons,which can be multiplied by spallation cascades and nuclear excitation to produce low-energy neutrons in a depleted-uranium or thorium secondary target. Fission events producing heat and additional neutrons are produced. The evaporation and fission neutrons would be captured,and fissile material would be produced. The production rates for exp 239Pu and exp 233 U are estimated for 0.25-A and 0.375-A deuteron beams from an Alvarez linac. The capital and operating costs are estimated,and the resulting costs of fissile materials are calculated. The cost of generating power in reactors using the fissile material so produced as make-up fuel is also estimated. The energy multiplication (power generated in reactors so fueled/power consumed by the accelerator) ranges from about 10to about 50depending upon the make-up of the secondary target;depleted uranium,thorium,or a combination of the two. An experimental and theoretical program to facilitate optimization of the parameters of a production installation is described. 13figures, 14tables. (ERA citation 02:020667)