AFCI Reactor-Accelerator AFCI Reactor-Accelerator Coupling Experiments Coupling Experiments
(RACE) Project(RACE) ProjectProf. Denis Beller Prof. Denis Beller
Project DirectorProject Director
Idaho State University Idaho State University (e-mail: [email protected])(e-mail: [email protected])
Eighth Information Exchange Meeting on Actinide and Eighth Information Exchange Meeting on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and TransmutationFission Product Partitioning and Transmutation
Nov. 11, 2004Nov. 11, 2004
RACE ProjectRACE Project
Design, model, and conduct ADSS Design, model, and conduct ADSS experimentsexperiments
Predict and analyze subcritical Predict and analyze subcritical multiplication and source-driven transientsmultiplication and source-driven transients
Map source importance & flux in and Map source importance & flux in and around a variety of ADSSaround a variety of ADSS
Provide a bridge between MUSE and Provide a bridge between MUSE and TRADETRADE
Idaho State University leads a Idaho State University leads a growing RACE consortiumgrowing RACE consortium
IAC RACE ADSS IAC RACE ADSS UT-Austin & Texas A&M UT-Austin & Texas A&M TRIGAs TRIGAs UNLV TRPUNLV TRP U of MichiganU of Michigan ANL-West ANL-West LANLLANL
Driving neutron sources:Driving neutron sources:
MUSE DT-neutron sourceMUSE DT-neutron source» ~1.5x10~1.5x101010 n/s, 2.45 & 14.1 MeV n/s, 2.45 & 14.1 MeV
TRADE pTRADE p++ source will make about source will make about » 101015 15 n/s, up to 140 MeVn/s, up to 140 MeV
Quite a jump!Quite a jump! RACE linear electron accelerator: RACE linear electron accelerator: » Up to ~10Up to ~101313 n/s n/s» Intermediate energy: spallation-like Intermediate energy: spallation-like
spectrum plus small tail up to 30+ MeVspectrum plus small tail up to 30+ MeV
ADSS Experiments ComparisonADSS Experiments Comparison
SystemSystem SourceSource Strength Strength (n/s)(n/s) PowerPower CostCost
MUSEMUSE DD & DTDD & DT ~10~101010 ZeroZero $60 M$60 M
RACERACE Electron Electron beambeam 5x105x101212 1-10 kW1-10 kWthth $2-3 M$2-3 M
TRADETRADE Proton Proton cyclotroncyclotron ~10~101515 200 kW200 kWthth $90 M?$90 M?
RACE ADSS CharacteristicsRACE ADSS Characteristics
University
nominal power (kWth)
peak power (MWth)
target location fuel type
fuel compo-sition
fuel enrich-ment keff
ISU 0 0 center platesU-Al Alloy,
Al clad<20% 0.7-0.95
UT-Austin 1 1000 edge rods U-ZrH <20%~0.92 to
1.0
Tx A&M 1 10 1000edge,
graphite column
rodsU-ZrH "FLIP"
fuel70% up to 1.0
Tx A&M 2 10 1000 center rods U-ZrH <20% up to 1.0
Tx A&M 3 (LBE)
0 0 center rods U-ZrH <20%0.90 to 0.95?
Tentative Experiment ScheduleTentative Experiment Schedule
ISU-IACISU-IAC» Design & licensing Design & licensing Aug ’03-Mar ’04Aug ’03-Mar ’04» ConstructionConstruction Feb-Apr ’04Feb-Apr ’04» ExperimentsExperiments Apr ’04-Jun ’05Apr ’04-Jun ’05
UT-Austin ExperimentsUT-Austin Experiments Spring ’05-?Spring ’05-?» TRIGA, otherTRIGA, other
Texas A&M ExperimentsTexas A&M Experiments Fall ’05-’07+Fall ’05-’07+» TRIGA, used fuel core, LBETRIGA, used fuel core, LBE Fall ‘07Fall ‘07
RACE ProgressRACE Progress
Design studies completed at Texas A&M Design studies completed at Texas A&M and UTand UT» Fresh fuel and fresh reactor at UTFresh fuel and fresh reactor at UT» Texas A&M may build permanent ADSSTexas A&M may build permanent ADSS
Static and transient analyses completed at Static and transient analyses completed at U of MichU of Mich
New UNLV TRP project approvedNew UNLV TRP project approved Seven ADSS experiments at ISU-IACSeven ADSS experiments at ISU-IAC
75% W, 25%Cu target for ISU 75% W, 25%Cu target for ISU RACE, 2 ¾” diameter x 3” longRACE, 2 ¾” diameter x 3” long
Target with thermocouplesTarget with thermocouples
Comparison of MCNPX flux and Mn Comparison of MCNPX flux and Mn Activation MeasurementsActivation Measurements
Normalized Mn activation and MCNPX flux for RACE-01 exposure experiment versus position on a simulated fuel plate
above the neutron-generating target and mini-tank
0.000
0.200
0.400
0.600
0.800
1.000
1.200
-20 -10 0 10 20
Mn activation
MCNPX flux
Near accelerator
In June we installed a new systemIn June we installed a new system
Replaced acceleratorReplaced accelerator Large Al vesselLarge Al vessel Graphite reflectorGraphite reflector Water moderatorWater moderator
Accelerator and “large” vesselAccelerator and “large” vessel
RACE fuel trays and target inside RACE fuel trays and target inside the graphite reflectorthe graphite reflector
Preliminary results:Preliminary results:Gold activation versus MCNPXGold activation versus MCNPX
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Axial position
Normalized gold activation
MCNPX Gold Activiation (shifted)
Time-dependent measurementTime-dependent measurementHe-3 Detector Response versus Time
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
0 10 20 30 40 50
Time (ms)
Co
un
ts
08/16 10 Plates08/16 No fuel08/02 No DU08/02 DU
ConclusionConclusion
ADSS Exp at ISU, UT, and Tx A&MADSS Exp at ISU, UT, and Tx A&M Now thru 2006 or beyondNow thru 2006 or beyond Design, modeling, and executionDesign, modeling, and execution Predict and measure subcritical Predict and measure subcritical
multiplication, source-driven transients, and multiplication, source-driven transients, and map source importancemap source importance
Recruit, educate and train studentsRecruit, educate and train students TransmutationTransmutation
