XT-ADS: Neutronics, Shielding, and Radiation Damage Calculations
Résumé
This work is related to the design of the core of the eXperimental
demonstration of the technological feasibility of Transmutation
in an Accelerator-Driven System (XT-ADS) facility in
the framework of the EUROpean Research Programme for the
TRANSmutation of High Level Nuclear Waste in an Accelerator
Driven System (EUROTRANS) project. The design specifications
for the proton accelerator of the XT-ADS are 600 MeV
and up to 3.5 mA for the beam energy and current, respectively.
The proton beam impinges on a liquid target consisting of a
lead-bismuth–eutectic mixture. The state-of-the-art Monte Carlo
code MCNPX was used to assess the neutronics performance
and shielding properties of the system. The nuclear dataprocessing
system NJOY 99 was also used. The work consisted
of the optimization of the core configuration (geometry, number,
and location of the fuel and absorber assemblies) and the
appropriate fuel composition in order to reduce radiation damage
(namely, the displacement per atom values) on the core
barrel and top grid plate, while maintaining the high neutron
fluxes (1015 n{cm-2{s-1) and the keff of the system of ;0.95.
The assessment of the core configuration and fuel composition
was performed, resulting from the interplay among parameters
such as the desired high neutron fluxes, the keff value
wanted for safety and core performance reasons, the as-lowas-
possible radiation damage of the core barrel and top grid
plate, and the fuel composition, among others.