Nuclear Analysis of an Accelerator-Driven Reactor
Based on General Atomics' EM2 Design
This study performs a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of an accelerator-driven subcritical power reactor fueled with depleted uranium. The subcritical core examined in the study is based on the design features of the new and novel modular Energy Multiplier Module (EM2™) helium-cooled fast reactor concept of General Atomics, a small, modular nuclear reactor aimed at using depleted uranium resulting from the enrichment process and spent fuel from light water reactors.
The study shows that, by using a proper cylindrical core geometry with axial and radial silicon carbide reflectors, a power conversion ratio up to 4.5 from the electricity supplying the accelerator to that produced by the reactor can be achieved. This performance requires a proper burn-up distribution and evolution management during the life of the fuel in the core, which can be achieved by using a specific fuel shuffling scheme optimized through the study, targeting a discharge burn-up value around 25% fissions per initial metal atom (FIMA). It was also found that increasing the power of the neutron source supplying the core can allow for a higher power conversion ratio from the electricity supplying the accelerator to that produced by the reactor, hence the necessity to lead further research in the field of accelerator-driven systems.
The study shows that, by using a proper cylindrical core geometry with axial and radial silicon carbide reflectors, a power conversion ratio up to 4.5 from the electricity supplying the accelerator to that produced by the reactor can be achieved. This performance requires a proper burn-up distribution and evolution management during the life of the fuel in the core, which can be achieved by using a specific fuel shuffling scheme optimized through the study, targeting a discharge burn-up value around 25% fissions per initial metal atom (FIMA). It was also found that increasing the power of the neutron source supplying the core can allow for a higher power conversion ratio from the electricity supplying the accelerator to that produced by the reactor, hence the necessity to lead further research in the field of accelerator-driven systems.
Personal Contributions
- Assessed feasibility of an accelerator-driven subcritical power reactor, using the Monte Carlo particle transport and interaction code MCNP5 and the depletion analysis code ORIGEN2.
- Optimized core design and fuel management through parametric studies for higher power yield and reduced waste production.
- Automated data extraction and analysis using original Python scripts.
Selected Publications
Note: Some publications are protected by copyright, and therefore not available for direct download. Please contact me if you want to request a copy.
- A. T. Cisneros, N. Zweibaum, C. Di Sanzo, J. Cohen, and E. Greenspan, "Feasibility of Once Through Subcritical Cores Driven by an Accelerator Spallation Neutron Source," Fusion Sci. Technol., 61, 1T, 431 (2012).
- N. Zweibaum and E. Greenspan, "Nuclear Analysis of an Accelerator-Driven Reactor Based on General Atomics' EM2 Design," Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley (2010).
