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: beller@egr.unlv.edu)(e-mail: beller@egr.unlv.edu)

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