Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2004 International RERTR Meeting

ACCELERATOR-DRIVEN SUBCRITICAL ASSEMBLY: CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSES

Yousry Gohar, James Bailey, Henry Belch, Dmitri Naberezhnev, Philip Strons, Igor Bolshinsky
Argonne National Laboratory, USA

ABSTRACT
 

A conceptual design activity has been started to develop an accelerator-driven subcritical assembly using the existing electron accelerators at Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology (KIPT) in Ukraine. The main functions of the subcritical assembly are the production of medical isotopes and the support of the Ukraine nuclear power industry. Reactor physics experiments and material performance characterization will be carried out utilizing the capabilities of the subcritical assembly. The neutron source of the subcritical assembly is generated from the interaction of 100 KW electron beam with a tungsten or uranium target. The electron beam has a uniform spatial distribution and the electron energy is in the range of 150 to 200 MeV. The subcritical assembly is planned to use high enriched uranium (HEU). This activity is evaluating the possibility of converting the assembly to use low enriched uranium (LEU) without penalizing its performance. Different fuel forms are under consideration with water coolant including the LEU fuel of the Kiev research reactor. Beryllium or water is utilized for the reflector of the subcritical assembly. In the design process, the neutron flux is maximized to enhance the capabilities of the subcritical assembly. The conceptual design and the design analyses will be presented in this paper. The analyses include nuclear physics, neutronics, heat transfer, hydraulics, and material issues.

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