PEACE a Prototype of the Energy Amplifier for

PEACE : a Prototype of the Energy Amplifier for a Clean Environment Y. Kadi CERN, Switzerland 29 January 2007, Energy Forum, Bergen, Norway Future of ADS Y. Kadi 1

OUTLINE PEACE: an Industrial Prototype of the Energy Amplifier for a Clean Environment · Motivations · General Features of Energy Amplifier Systems · Experimental Validation · Implementation Strategy · Time Schedule Future of ADS Y. Kadi 2

A new primary energy source q By 2050, the world’s consumption (+ 2%/y) should reach 34 TW, of which 20 TW should come from new energy sources: A major innovation is needed in order to replace the expected “decay” of the traditional energy sources! q This implies a strong R&D effort, which is the only hope to solve the energy problem on the long term. This R&D should not exclude any direction a priori! * Renewables * Nuclear (fission and fusion) * Use of hydrogen q Can nuclear energy play a major role? q Nuclear energy has the potential to satisfy the demand for a long time (at least 15 centuries for fission, essentially infinite for fusion if it ever works), and is obviously appealing from the point of view of atmospheric emissions. Future of ADS Y. Kadi 3

Which type of nuclear energy? q Nuclear fusion energy: not yet proven to be practical. Conceptual level not reached (magnetic or inertial confinement? ). ITER a step, hopefully in the right direction. q Nuclear fission energy: well understood, and the technology exists, with a long (≥ 50 years) experience, however, present scheme has its own problems: • Military proliferation (production and extraction of plutonium); • Possibility of accidents (Chernobyl [1986]; Three Mile island [1979]); • Waste management. q However, it is not given by Nature, that the way we use nuclear fission energy today is the only and best way to do it. One should rather ask the question: Could nuclear fission be exploited in a way that is acceptable to Society? q To answer this question, Carlo Rubbia and his team at CERN have carried out, in the 1990’s, an extensive experimental programme (FEAT, TARC) which has led to a conceptual design of a new type of nuclear fission system, driven by a proton accelerator, with very attractive properties (Pioneering work by Ernest Lawrence, Wilfrid Bennett Lewis, Hiroshi Takahashi, Charles D. Bowman). Future of ADS Y. Kadi 4

Basic Principle of Energy Amplifier Systems q One way to obtain intense neutron sources is to use a hybrid sub-critical reactor-accelerator system called Accelerator. Driven System: The accelerator bombards a target with high-energy protons which produces a very intense neutron source through the spallation process. These neutrons can consequently be multiplied (fission and n, xn) in the subcritical core which surrounds the spallation target. Future of ADS Y. Kadi 5

General Features of Energy Amplifier Systems Subcritical system driven by a proton accelerator: * Fast neutrons (to fission all transuranic elements) * Fuel cycle based on thorium (minimisation of nuclear waste) * Lead as target to produce neutrons through spallation, as neutron moderator and as heat carrier * Deterministic safety with passive safety elements (protection against core melt down and beam window failure) Future of ADS Y. Kadi 6

General Features of Energy Amplifier Systems Future of ADS Y. Kadi 7

Energy Amplifiers vs Critical Reactors Main objective is to reduce the production of nuclear waste (TRU) q Energy Amplifier : * sub-critical * fast neutrons * Thorium + 233 U +TRU (Pu + Minor Actinides) q Reactor : * critical * slow neutrons * Uranium + Pu Future of ADS Y. Kadi 8

Physics of Sub-Critical Systems EAs operate in a non self-sustained chain reaction mode minimises criticality and power excursions EAs are operated in a sub-critical mode stays sub-critical whether accelerator is on or off extra level of safety against criticality accidents The accelerator provides a control mechanism for sub-critical systems more convenient than control rods in critical reactor safety concerns, neutron economy EAs provide a decoupling of the neutron source (spallation source) from the fissile fuel (fission neutrons) EAs accept fuels that would not be acceptable in critical reactors Minor Actinides High Pu content LLFF. . . Future of ADS Y. Kadi 9

Safety margin from prompt criticality q For a critical system, it is measured by the fraction of delayed neutrons. For the Energy Amplifier, it is an intrinsic property, and can be chosen. q Subcriticality implies strong damping of reaction to reactivity insertion, making the system very stable (presence of higher modes in neutron flux). Keff < ksource The parameters of the system can be chosen so that k < 1 at all times. Future of ADS Y. Kadi 10

Reactivity Insertions There is a spectacular difference between a critical reactor and an EA (reactivity in $ = r/b; r = (k– 1)/k) : q Figure extracted from C. Rubbia et al. , CERN/AT/95 -53 9 (ET) showing the effect of a rapid reactivity insertion in the Energy Amplifier for two values of subcriticality (0. 98 and 0. 96), compared with a Fast Breeder Critical Reactor. q 2. 5 $ (Dk/k ~ 6. 5 10– 3) of reactivity change corresponds to the sudden extraction of all control rods from the reactor. Future of ADS Y. Kadi 11

Energy Amplifiers vs Critical Reactors Main objective is to reduce the production of nuclear waste (TRU) q Energy Amplifier : * sub-critical * fast neutrons * Thorium + 233 U +TRU (Pu + Minor Actinides) q Reactor : * critical * slow neutrons * Uranium + Pu Future of ADS Y. Kadi 12

Nuclear waste: the priority in developed countries q TRU: (1. 1%) produced by neutron capture; dominated by plutonium: destroy them through fission q Fission Fragments: (4%) the results of fissions transform them into stable elements through neutron capture Future of ADS Y. Kadi 13

Evolution of radiotoxicity of nuclear waste q TRU constitute by far the main waste problem [long lifetime – reactivity]. The system should be optimized to destroy TRU. Same as optimizing for a system that minimises TRU production. Interesting for energy production! Typically 250 kg of TRU and 830 kg of FF per Gwe Future of ADS Y. Kadi 14

Maximizing fission probability The strategy consists in using the hardest possible neutron flux, so that all actinides can fission instead of accumulating as waste. Note: thermal fission resilient elements Future of ADS Y. Kadi 15

Fast neutrons and high burn-up Fast neutrons allow a more efficient use of the fuel by allowing an extended burnup Future of ADS Y. Kadi 16

Energy Amplifiers vs Critical Reactors Main objective is to reduce the production of nuclear waste (TRU) q Energy Amplifier : * sub-critical * fast neutrons * Thorium + 233 U +TRU (Pu + Minor Actinides) q Reactor : * critical * slow neutrons * Uranium + Pu Future of ADS Y. Kadi 17

Thorium as fuel in a system breeding 233 U It is the presence of the accelerator which makes it possible to choose the optimum fuel. Low equilibrium concentration of TRU makes the system favourable for their elimination: Pu 10– 4 in Th vs 12% in U. Future of ADS Y. Kadi 18

Radiotoxicity q The radiotoxicity of spent fuel reaches the level of coal ashes after only 500 years, and is similar to what is predicted for future hypothetical fusion systems Future of ADS Y. Kadi 19

Why not Thorium Reactors q Thorium is not vigorously fissile => it needs a source of neutrons to kick-off the chain reaction. q Thorium also cannot maintain criticality on its own => it cannot sustain a chain reaction once it has been started (Pa 233) q The question until now has been how to provide thorium fuel with enough neutrons to keep the reaction going and do so in an efficient and economical way. Future of ADS Y. Kadi 20

MOTIVATION for ADS q Accessible, clean & cheap energy for countries requiring more energy to reach normal development. q Nuclear energy without accidents and radioactive waste. (sub-critical & fast neutrons) q Nuclear energy without proliferation risks (Th fuel) Future of ADS Y. Kadi 21

OUTLINE PEACE: an Industrial Prototype of the Energy Amplifier for a Clean Environment · Motivations · General Features of Energy Amplifier Systems · Experimental Validation · Implementation Strategy · Time Schedule Future of ADS Y. Kadi 22

The FEAT experiment 3. 6 tons of natural uranium Future of ADS Y. Kadi 23

The TARC Experiment Future of ADS Y. Kadi 24

Transmutation of Nuclear Waste: Fission Products Fission Fragments activity and toxicity after 1000 years of cool-down in a Secular Repository (Values are given for 1 GWe ´ year) Radio. Isotope Half-Life Mass (years) (kg) Activity @ 1000 yr Ingestive Toxicity Dilution Class A (Ci) (Sv) 103 (m 3) 129 I 1. 57 x 107 8. 09 1. 43 19. 58 178. 47 99 Tc 2. 11 x 105 16. 61 284. 29 27. 67 947. 65 126 Sn 1. 0 x 105 1. 187 33. 79 3. 20 9. 65 135 Cs 2. 3 x 106 34. 12 39. 32 9. 87 39. 32 1. 53 x 106 26. 11 65. 64 2. 38 18. 75 6. 5 x 105 0. 30 0. 745 0. 59 93 Zr 79 Se Future of ADS Y. Kadi 2. 06 25

Experimental Setup Future of ADS Y. Kadi 26

TARC Results (2) Future of ADS Y. Kadi 27

R&D Activity in Europe Vast R&D activity in Europe over last 10 years: 12 countries, 43 institutions EU 31 MEuros Member States 100 MEuros Future of ADS Y. Kadi 28

DEMETRA: Test Facilities Ø In FP 5, a complementory combination of test facilities was set up in Europe. Corr. Wett Loop PSI Ø EUROTRANS is fully using these test facilities. Future of ADS STELLA Loop CEA CIRCE Loop ENEA VICE Loop SCK-CEN CHEOPE Loop ENEA TALL Loop KTH Y. Kadi CIRCO Loop CIEMAT 29

NUDATA: Experimental Facilities GSI @ Darmstadt (Germany) Gelina @ Geel (UEBelgium) n. TOF @ CERN (Switzerland) and its TAS g-calorimeter Cyclotron @ Uppsala (Sweden) Future of ADS Neutron capture (n, g) resonances in one actinide Y. Kadi 30

F. G roe s che l et a l. (P q MEGAPIE Project at PSI q 0. 59 Ge. V proton beam q 1. 3 MW beam power q Goals: q Demonstrate feasablility q One year service life q Operating since August 2006 SI) MEGAPIE TARGET Future of ADS Proton Beam Y. Kadi 31

SINQ SPALLATION NEUTRON SOURCE Future of ADS Y. Kadi 32

Open Questions • The material selection problem for the internal core structures as well as for the spallation target module and fuel cladding in contact with LBE; • The HLM technology should be answering the problems of LBE conditioning and filtering in pool design conditions; • The development of the needed instrumentation for LBE quality monitoring in order to guarantee a safe and efficient operation of LBE cooled ADS: O 2 -Meters, ultrasonic visualisation under LBE, HLM Free surface monitoring, sub-criticality monitoring, LBE velocity field measurement; Future of ADS Y. Kadi 33

Open Questions • Key Accelerator components should be demonstrated, namely the reliable working for periods of 3 months of the injector; • The spallation module based on the windowless concept (most promising of achieving high performance core) should be fully designed from the mechanical and thermalhydraulic aspects; • The coupling of the ADS components (accelerator, spallation module and a sub-critical core) should be realised at realistic power that would allow to study thermal feedback reactivity assessment, the on-line subcriticality monitoring and control at various keff values. Future of ADS Y. Kadi 34

ROAD MAP FOR PEACE 2+ UO 2+Pu. O 2 l ica em h l c ro ue py of f f y o ing log cess o n ch pro Te re Hig hp ow tec er a hn cce olo ler gy ato r s 2+ Technologies of fast reactors with lead-bismuth coolant Liquid metal targets technology Future of ADS Pu. O 2 Y. Kadi 35

Accelerator choice q. Cyclotron = MODULAR, realised on industrial scale Cost effective ; applicable in isolated regions ; applicable for desalination & cogeneration Future of ADS q. Linear accelerator = Solution for Research Centres & highly centralised production Y. Kadi 36

The SVBR-75/100 MWe Reactor Unit • Integral design with the steam generators sitting in the same Pb-Bi pool at 400 -480ºC; • Russia built 8 Alfa-Class submarines, each powered by a compact 155 MWth Pb-Bi cooled reactor, and 80 reactor-yrs operational experience was acquired with these; • As follow-up of Russian programme of Pb-Bi cooled fast neutron reactors for Alpha type submarines, the multi-purpose reactor module SBVR 75 is now available on the “market” (90 M$, Stephanov et al. 1998, Gidropress). Future of ADS Y. Kadi 37

Aqueous method (Japan) Future of ADS Y. Kadi 38

Pyro-processing q Principle Electro-refining in a molten salt solution with electrodes at different potentials q Actinides Separated from Fission Products and high level waste: Plutonium is combined with minor Actinides (Np, Am, Cm) and an approximately equal amount of U q fully tested at the laboratory level q Very efficient (> 99. 9%) q No effluents waste, all chemicals recycled: no discharges in the environment q Small size and easy to operate: it may be located on the reactor site or near by, minimising fuel transport q Non proliferating: all TRU’s always intimately mixed q Small batches: no criticality risks. Future of ADS Y. Kadi 39

The Prototype of the Energy Amplifier for a Clean Energy Future of ADS Y. Kadi 40

The PEACE : Plant Layout Future of ADS Y. Kadi 41

The modified version of SVBR-75 reactor for PEACE Future of ADS Y. Kadi 42

The PEACE : Global Parameters Future of ADS Y. Kadi 43

The PEACE : Transmutation Rates Plutonium incineration in Th. Pu based fuel is more efficient and settles to approximately 43 kg/TWh, namely 4 times what is produced by a standard PWR (per unit energy). The minor actinide production is very limited in this case. Long-Lived Fission products incineration is made possible in a very efficient way through the use of the Adiabatic Resonance Crossing Method. Such a machine could in principle incinerate up to 4 times what is produced by a standard PWR (per unit energy). Future of ADS Y. Kadi 44

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Proton Driver Power 250 Me. V*3 m. A 250 Me. V*6 m. A = 0. 75 MWth = 1. 5 MWth 900 Me. V*6 m. A = 5. 4 MWth Gain G 0 0. 75 2. 5 Sub-criticality level, k 0. 95 0. 975 Gain=Go/(1 -k) 15 30 100 Thermal Power Output 11. 25 MWth 45 MWth 540 MWth

The Generalized Stages for Realizing the PEACE Program Future of ADS Y. Kadi 46

Time Schedule Future of ADS Y. Kadi 47

R&D Program Partnership Network q Accelerator CERN (CH), PSI (CH), AIMA (F), IBA (B) q Spallation source * Basic spallation data CERN (CH), GSI (D), PSI (CH) * Feasibility of the windowless design UCL (B), FZR (D), FZK(D), NRG (NL), CEA (F) + ENEA (I) + IPUL (Latvia) q Subcritical assembly q q * RSC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow – designing target – blanket systems; investigation and justification of the fuel cycle in transmutation systems, including radiochemical problems. * SSC RF IPPE, Obninsk – target – blanket system construction at the SSC RF IPPE site, the functions of designer and production engineer of the element (component) base for the blanket. * OKB “Hydropress”, Podolsk – Chief designer of the target – blanket system. * GSPI and VNIPIET, St. – Petersburg – Design work at the SSC RF IPPE site. * SSC RF _ VNIINM, Moscow – MOX fuel development and justification; * IYa. I RAN, Troitsk – R&D work in justification of subcritical system physics. * NIKIET, Moscow – Chief designer of the equipment for the IYa. I RAN site. * ENEA (I), CEA (F), BN (B), Uo. K-UI (LT), TEE (B), CIEMAT (SP) Fuel US, EUR, INDIA, RUSSIA Safety EUR, RUSSIA Robotics EUR Building EUR Future of ADS Y. Kadi 48

Why such a delay ? • The option of high level waste transmutation via ADS is not yet fully accepted by all European nuclear countries or at least a majority of them as the most appropriate way of doing it; • Besides this situation one should mention that in Europe there are many fuel cycle scenarios in application ranging from the once-through scenario up to the double-strata one. • There also various policies regarding nuclear energy ranging from the continuous development up to the phase out policy Future of ADS Y. Kadi 49

VHTR Romney Duffey GFR Werner Von Lensa Didier Haas SFR LFR SCWR MSR Future of ADS Frank Carre Tetsuaki Takeda Jonghwa Chang Dieter Matzner Wolfgang Hoffelner Tim Abram Finis Southworth Jean-Louis Carbonnier Tomoyasu Mizuno Jonghwa Chang Johan Slabber Paul Denis Every Kevan Weaver Gian-Luigi Fiorini Masakazu Ichimiya Dohee Hahn Tim Abram Tom Lennox Bob Hill Luciano Cinotti Hussa Khartabi Thomas Schulenberg Shoji Kotake Mamoru Kune Y. Suh Craig F. Smith Katsumi Yamada Yoon. Yeung Bae Mike Modro Konomura Marc Delpech Yoshiaki Oka Miloslav Hron Coddington Claude Renault Charles Forsberg Y. Kadi 50

Conclusions q Can atomic power be green ? Physics suggests it can !! q Present accelerator technology can provide a suitable proton accelerator to drive new types of nuclear systems to destroy nuclear waste (including nuclear weapons) and/or to produce energy. q An Energy Amplifier could destroy TRU through fission at about x 4 the rate at which they are produced in LWRs. LLFF such as 129 I and 99 Tc could be transmuted into stable elements in a parasitic mode, around the EA core, making use of the ARC method. q Next step: PEACE ? when ? where ? Future of ADS Y. Kadi 51