托卡马克实验混合堆 FEB 嬗变 MA 可行性研究

研究了在聚变实验混合堆ＦＦＢ设计中，嬗变长寿命放射性少锕系（ＭＡ，ＭｉｎｏｒＡｃ－ｔｉｎｉｄｅｓ）核废物的可行性。应用改进的一维中子输运和燃耗计算程序ＢＩＳＯＮ３．０，完成了嬗变中子学与核素贫化计算。研究了核废物的嬗变率与辐照时间、包层厚度和废物装载量的关系，并对系统有关参数的选择进行了优化设计。结果表明，该设计（ＭＡ＋Ｐｕ）可年嬗变处置来自５５座相同功率的ＰＷＲ卸出的ＭＡ核废物，同时输出热功率５．４ＧＷ（ｔｈ）。     

Design study of lead-bismuth cooled ADS dedicated to nuclear waste transmutation

Research and development on nuclear waste transmutation are being carried out with a special emphasis placed on dedicated accelerator-driven systems at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute under the Japanese OMEGA Program. The reference accelerator-driven system design employs eutectic lead-bismuth as spallation target material and coolant. The fuel for the subcritical core is minor-actinide mononitride. The system consists of a 1.5GeV, 14mA proton accelerator and an 800MWt subcritical core with an effective neutron multiplication factor of 0.95. The transmutation rate of minor actinides is approximately 250 kg/y at 80% load factor. The design has salient features that the coolant inventory is large due to the tank-type configuration, the temperature rise through the core is relatively low, and the power conversion is operated on a saturated steam turbine cycle. These features make the plant response to a beam trip slow and much less demanding.     

Reaction-yield dependence of the (γ, γ′) reaction of 238U on the target thickness

The dependence of the nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) yield on the target thickness was studied. To this end, an NRF experiment was performed on ²³⁸U using a laser Compton back-scattering (LCS) γ-ray beam at the High Intensity γ-ray Source facility at Duke University. Various thicknesses of depleted uranium targets were irradiated by an LCS γ-ray beam with an incident beam energy of ～2.475 MeV. The scattering NRF γ-rays were measured using an High-purity Germanium (HPGe) detector array positioned at scattering angles of 90° relative to the incident γ-beam. An analytical model for the NRF reaction yield (NRF RY model) is introduced to interpret the experimental data. Additionally, a Monte Carlo simulation using GEANT4 was performed to simulate the NRF interaction for a wide range of target thicknesses of the ²³⁸U. The measured NRF yield shows the saturation behavior. The results of both of the simulation and the analytical model can reproduce the saturation curve of the scattering NRF yield of ²³⁸U against the target thickness. In addition, we propose a method to deduce the precise integral cross section of the NRF reaction by fitting the NRF yield dependency on the target thickness without any absolute measurements.     

用于测量高能γ射线的三晶电子对谱仪的研制

为解决高能γ射线的准确测量问题,本文基于自主研发的闪烁晶体探测器研制了一套三晶电子对谱仪,测量了⁵⁶Co放射源1.5 MeV以上γ射线的双逃逸峰能谱。与使用单个LaBr3探测器所测能谱相比,三晶电子对谱仪有效降低了峰与连续本底的比值。本文研究结果为准确测量加速器共振核反应(p,γ)及激光康普顿散射(LCS)产生的高能γ射线奠定了技术基础。     

ADS熔盐散裂靶中子学性能研究

与传统加速器驱动次临界系统（ADS）采用金属靶作为散裂中子靶的设计不同,加速器驱动次临界熔盐堆（AD-MSRs）采用靶堆一体的设计,直接使用燃料熔盐作为散裂中子靶。由于熔盐靶的中子学性能直接影响AD MSRs的能量放大系数、核废物的嬗变和核燃料增殖的效率,所以本研究基于MCNPX程序,详细计算了高能质子轰击氟盐和氯盐两种熔盐靶产生的散裂中子产额、散裂中子能谱、能量沉积分布以及散裂产物等中子学性能,并与液态Pb和铅铋共熔体（LBE）两种液态金属靶进行了对比。计算结果表明,熔盐靶在散裂中子产额上与液态金属靶有一定的差距,但熔盐靶内能量沉积分布的梯度较小,更有利于靶区的热量导出。与液态Pb和LBE靶相比,熔盐靶的散裂产物中包含更多的气体以及高质量数的α发射体核素。     

Performance of a transmutation advanced device for sustainable energy application

Preliminary studies have been performed to design a device for nuclear waste transmutation and hydrogen generation based on a gas-cooled pebble bed accelerator driven system, TADSEA (Transmutation Advanced Device for Sustainable Energy Application). In previous studies we have addressed the viability of an ADS Transmutation device that uses as fuel wastes from the existing LWR power plants, encapsulated in graphite in the form of pebble beds, cooled by helium which enables high temperatures (in the order of 1200 K), to generate hydrogen from water either by high temperature electrolysis or by thermochemical cycles. For designing this device several configurations were studied, including several reflectors thickness, to achieve the desired parameters, the transmutation of nuclear waste and the production of 100 MW of thermal power. In this paper new studies performed on deep burn in-core fuel management strategy for LWR waste are presented. The fuel cycle on TADSEA device has been analyzed based on both: driven and transmutation fuel that had been proposed by the General Atomic design of a gas turbine-modular helium reactor. The transmutation results of the three fuel management strategies, using driven, transmutation and standard LWR spent fuel were compared, and several parameters describing the neutron performance of TADSEA nuclear core as the fuel and moderator temperature reactivity coefficients and transmutation chain, are also presented.     

Performance of a transmutation advanced device for sustainable energy application

Preliminary studies have been performed to design a device for nuclear waste transmutation and hydrogen generation based on a gas-cooled pebble bed accelerator driven system, TADSEA (Transmutation Advanced Device for Sustainable Energy Application). In previous studies we have addressed the viability of an ADS Transmutation device that uses as fuel wastes from the existing LWR power plants, encapsulated in graphite in the form of pebble beds, cooled by helium which enables high temperatures (in the order of 1200 K), to generate hydrogen from water either by high temperature electrolysis or by thermochemical cycles. For designing this device several configurations were studied, including several reflectors thickness, to achieve the desired parameters, the transmutation of nuclear waste and the production of 100 MW of thermal power. In this paper new studies performed on deep burn in-core fuel management strategy for LWR waste are presented. The fuel cycle on TADSEA device has been analyzed based on both: driven and transmutation fuel that had been proposed by the General Atomic design of a gas turbine-modular helium reactor. The transmutation results of the three fuel management strategies, using driven, transmutation and standard LWR spent fuel were compared, and several parameters describing the neutron performance of TADSEA nuclear core as the fuel and moderator temperature reactivity coefficients and transmutation chain, are also presented.     

基于RMC程序的用康普顿轮廓进行束缚态电子多普勒展宽修正研究

堆用蒙特卡罗程序RMC具备中子、光子、电子耦合输运能力，能完成精确的屏蔽计算，其中光子输运过程采用光子数据库进行了康普顿散射模拟。本文对康普顿散射物理原理及多普勒展宽方法进行分析，使用康普顿轮廓数据对束缚态电子进行多普勒展宽修正，实现了RMC程序对自由电子和束缚态电子的选择性处理。通过核素算例测试，观察到了多普勒能谱展宽的效应，证明了该方法的正确性。通过对典型压水堆组件的计算和对比，验证了用康普顿轮廓进行束缚态电子多普勒展宽修正的必要性和正确性。     

Study on MA and FP transmutation in fast reactors

Feasibility studies have been performed to develop an optimized fast reactor core for reducing long-term radiotoxicity of nuclear waste by minor actinide(MA) and long-lived fission product(FP) transmutation, taking into consideration fuel cycle technology. Systematic parameter survey calculations were implemented to investigate the basic characteristics of MA and FP transmutation in a fast reactor core. The hybrid MA-loading method, where Np nuclide is dispersed uniformly in the core and target subassemblies containing Am, Cm and rare earth nuclides are loaded into the blanket region, has the potential to achieve the maximum transmutation of MA with no special fuel design considerations. The introduction of target subassemblies using duplex pellets - a moderator annulus surrounding a ⁹⁹Tc core - has a great potential to transmute long-lived fission products in the radial blanket region of the fast reactor core.     

Proposal for selective isotope transmutation of long-lived fission products using quasi-monochromatic γ-ray beams

We have proposed a new selective isotope transmutation method using photonuclear reactions with quasi-monochromatic γ-ray beams. This method is based on the fact that the particle threshold of a long-lived fission product (LLFP) such as ⁹³Zr, ¹⁰⁷Pd, or ⁷⁹Se is lower than those of stable isotopes of the same chemical element. Therefore, this method has the excellent advantage that LLFPs cannot, in principle, be produced newly even if the target materials include stable isotopes in addition to LLFPs. Furthermore, this method is effective for ¹²⁶Sn, ^{135, 137}Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and ³H. The nuclear data involved and suitable γ-ray sources are discussed. Laser Compton scattering γ-ray sources and neutron capture γ-rays in nuclear reactors are candidates for this method.     

长寿命裂变产物在聚变驱动次临界堆包层中嬗变的中子学优化分析

商用裂变堆乏燃料中高放长寿命裂变产物(LLFP)由于其具有很强的放射毒性,所以对于它们的嬗变处理非常重要。在对世界上关于LLFP嬗变处理的广泛调研的基础上,考虑到LLFP的同位素分离技术的发展水平,选择了LLFP中99Tc、129I和135Cs的嬗变处理(?)料的化学形式,分析了不同慢化剂材料对嬗变能力的影响,同时针对聚变驱动次临界堆的多功能双冷核废料嬗变包层(DWTB)进行了LLFP嬗变的中子学设计和优化分析。     

Current Methods for Laboratory Analysis of Environmental Levels of Radioactivity

This paper reviews the current methods for laboratory analysis of environmental levels of radioactivity and discusses the background, Compton scatter, and efficiency parameters that are associated with the various spectrometer systems. The methods which are discussed are: 1) total absorption gamma-ray spectrometry, 2) multidimensional gamma-ray spectrometry, and 3) multidimensional gamma-ray spectrometry with dual beta coincidence (all systems use NaI(Tl) detectors). Dual Ge(Li) anticoincidence shielded systems as well as NaI(Tl) and Ge(Li) coincidence gamma-ray spectrometers are discussed. The analysis of X-ray and alpha emitters is pursued for both laboratory and field detector systems. The special adaptation of some gamma-ray, X-ray and alpha spectroscopy systems to field utilization including underwater analysis is presented.     

Fusion-driven transmutation of selected long-lived fission products

The long-term radiological burden associated with nuclear power production is usually attributed to long-lived fission products (LLFP). Their lifetime and large equilibrium mass and hence radioactivity accumulated in the course of fission energy generation make their storage a rather formidable task to solve. Therefore the idea of artificial incineration of LLFP through their transmutation has been quite naturally incorporated into the concept of self-consistent nuclear energy system (SCNES) based primarily on fast breeder reactor technologies. However it is now acknowledged that neutron environment of fission facilities including fast breeder reactors does not seem most appropriate for LLFP transmutation. The issue has been then extensively developed within the framework of multi-component self-consistent nuclear energy system (MC-SCNES). Neutrons of specific quality required for LLFP transmutation are proposed there to be of non-fission origin. Given neutron excess available and neutron quality, a fusion neutron source (FNS) is appearing as the candidate No. 1 to consider for LLFP transmutation. Research on LLFP transmutation by means of FNS has very long history and has received an additional boost during the decade passed. In the present study, potential of thermal flux blanket of FNS is exemplified by transmutation of ⁹³Zr and ¹²⁶Sn, the most difficult LLFP to transmute. It is shown that transmutation of ⁹³Zr is effective even with a rather modest neutron loading of 1 MWt·m⁻², typical for ITER project. Transmutation of ¹²⁶Sn, however, requires neutron loading of as high as 3 MWt·m⁻² for DD fusion and is quite unattractive for DT fusion. In the latter case, transmutation through the threshold (n,2n) reaction may be preferable.     

Partitioning and transmutation studies at JAERI both under OMEGA program and High-Intensity Proton Accelerator Project

At the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), active and comprehensive studies on partitioning and transmutation (P&T) of long-lived nuclear waste from the reprocessing processes of spent fuel has been carried out under the OMEGA program. Studies at JAERI include a design study of dedicated transmutation systems both of an MA burner fast reactor (ABR) and an accelerator-driven subcritical system (ADS), and the development of a high intensity proton accelerator as well as the development of partitioning process, nitride fuel fabrication/dry separation process technologies and nuclear data studies.

During the course of studies, JAERI developed the concept of the double-strata fuel cycle, in which a dedicated system is used for transmutation. Comparing the various transmutation systems, such as thermal neutron spectrum or fast neutron spectrum systems, power reactors or dedicated systems, from the viewpoints of reactor physics, nuclear fuel cycle and socio-technical issues, it was concluded that the ADS is the best option for transmutation of minor actinide(MA). JAERI, therefore, decided to concentrate its R&D efforts on the development of ADS and related technologies.

One of the goals of R&D is to provide a basis for designing demonstration facilities of ADS, aqueous partitioning process and nitride fuel fabrication and dry separation technologies. As the initial step toward this purpose, the construction of an ADS experimental facility is planned under the High-Intensity Proton Accelerator Project which JAERI and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) are jointly proposing since 1998.

The paper discusses the some of the results of P&T studies and the outline of the High-Intensity Proton Accelerator Project under which ADS experimental facility will be constructed.     

X-ray scattering in X-ray fluorescence spectra with X-ray monochromatic, polarised excitation - Modelling, experiment, and Monte-Carlo simulation

A systematic series of measurements has been carried out with monochromatic X-ray excitation with synchrotron radiation in order to check a physical model on X-ray scattering. The model has recently been successfully tested for the case of polychromatic, unpolarised excitation emitted by an X-ray tube. Our main purpose is the modelling of a physical background in X-ray fluorescence spectra, so that improved quantitative results can be achieved especially for strongly scattering specimens. The model includes single Rayleigh and Compton scattering in the specimen, the effect of bound electrons, the challenging Compton broadening and the polarisation degree. Representative specimens, measurement geometries and excitation energies have been selected with synchrotron monochromatic light at BAMline/BESSY II. Monte-Carlo simulations have been also carried out in order to evaluate the quality of the results achieved with the model.     

R&D activities based on fast reactor cycle technologies for transmutation of TRU and LLFP by JNC

Research and development(R&D) activities on partitioning and transmutation of trans-uranium nuclides (TRU) and LLFP and future R&D program in JNC were summarized. Feasibility design studies have been conducting to investigate the characteristics of a fast reactor core with TRU and LLFP transmutation. It was reconfirmed that the fast reactor has a strong potential for transmuting TRU and LLFP, effectively. R&D for establishing partitioning process of TRU apart from the high-level radioactive wastes have been carried out. By several counter-current runs of the TRUEX process using highly active raffinates, a process flow sheet capable of selective partitioning of actinides and fission products was newly developed. JNC has settled a new R&D program concerning partitioning and transmutation of long-lived radioactive waste based on recommendation of check & review for OMEGA program performed by the Ad Hoc Committee under the Atomic Energy Commission of Japan (AEC). The R&D program is composed of the design studies and development of element technologies (fabrication, irradiation) in the “Feasibility Studies” on commercialized fast reactor system and the basic studies with experiments (nuclear data, reactor physics, fuel property, etc.) to establish database and analytical tools for the TRU- and LLFP- containing fuel and core design.     

Development of a low-level setup for gamma spectroscopy: Application for nuclear astrophysics using reverse kinematics

It is more and more necessary to improve the sensitivity of gamma-ray spectroscopy systems, especially in nuclear astrophysics. In the case of radiative proton capture reactions, one means is to avoid the reactions on the target impurities by using reverse kinematics. This technique is possible with the LARN accelerator and can provide very clean cross-section measurements. For that purpose, a hydrogen standard has been carried out by means of ion implantation in silicon. In addition, a low-level setup has been put in place on a new beam line of the accelerator. A high efficiency and high resolution germanium detector is used conjointly with a double shielding. A passive lead castle shielding system is used to reduce the natural radioactivity and an active shielding consisting of an anti-cosmic veto is provided by an anticoincidence between the plastic scintillator and the gamma-ray detector. The setup allows a reduction of 70% of the background interference and provides an approximately 200 fold sensitivity gain of between 600 and 3000 keV. Some other developments have also been carried out to optimize the setup. The entire setup and the reverse kinematics have been validated by measuring the cross-section of the ¹³C(p,γ)¹⁴N and ¹⁵N(p,γ)¹⁶O reactions that present some astrophysical interest.     

基于启明星1#的ADS嬗变研究

以ADS次临界试验平台启明星1#为研究对象,计算分析了MA和LLFP共9种核素的嬗变反应率。通过实验测量了LLFP中¹³⁷Cs的实际嬗变反应率,发现该装置对¹³⁷Cs嬗变速度是其本身自然衰变的10倍。实验结果表明启明星1#具有一定的嬗变能力,经分析确认实验测量结果和理论计算结果吻合。     

Requirements for nuclear energy in the 21st century nuclear energy as a sustainable energy source

Nuclear energy must compete against other energy technologies in the 21st century. It must be economical and it must be proven that it fulfills the conditions for sutainability. This means that the requirements of — no short term depletion of resources — extremely low emission of noxious or radioactive substances to the environment — extremely low release of radioactivity from a nuclear plant in case of the most severe accidents and — the present very long term problem of high active waste must be transformed into a few hundred years problem through destruction of plutonium, transmutation of the minor actinides and the most important very long lived fission products.