Feasibility of uranium spallation target in accelerator-driven system

A feasibility study on natural uranium spallation target in accelerator-driven system (ADS) for minor actinide (MA) transmutation was performed. As a result of comparative study of uranium and lead-bismuth (PbBi) targets in the bare case without blanket surrounding, it was found that uranium target had better neutron generation performance, but limited by the geometrical size due to high neutron absorption in 238U. In ADS for MA transmutation, uranium used as target instead of PbBi also absorbs neutrons passing the target area.More realistic concept of pin type uranium spallation target cooled by liquid PbBi was considered aiming at enhancing spallation target performance in terms of neutron generation efficiency and operation temperature. The uranium pin target design had nothing better effects on neutron balance of such system than a conventional PbBi target in ADS and it was concluded that uranium target was not suitable for the full-scale ADS.

► Uranium and PbBi spallation targets were compared in bare case and in ADS.
► Bare uranium target had higher neutron generation limited by geometrical size.
► ADS with uranium target had worse neutron balance due to absorption in uranium.
► The concept of pin type uranium target cooled by liquid PbBi was introduced.
► Such design had no advantage in neutron balance of ADS in comparison to PbBi target.