Technology Advances in Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems

Throughout the R&D community in the Member States pursuing R&D activities in the area of partitioning and transmutation (P&T), there is a strong need for comparative assessments between different incinerating/transmuting nuclear systems. Ultimately, the goal of these studies is to provide objective ground for answering the question whether it is worthwhile to embark into the management of high-level radioactive wastes via P&T, and face higher costs and potentially higher risks, in order to decrease the long-term radiotoxicity in the geological disposal, and whether innovative nuclear systems (e.g., hybrid systems) presently under discussion have a distinctive edge over “classical” systems (e.g., advanced fast reactors). This is a collaborative CRP with OECD/NEA. Presently, IAEA is participating in, and contributing to NEA’s second “P&T Expert Group”.

The overall objective of the CRP is to perform R&D tasks contributing towards the proof of practicality for long-lived waste transmutation. In particular, to contribute towards providing the basis for the assessment of both the short and long term benefits - or lack of those - to the nuclear fuel backend of ADS transmutation, as compared to other existing, advanced, and innovative concepts. In pursuing this objective, the CRP considers the results and recommendations of the OECD/NEA "P&T Expert Group".

The CRP will concentrate on the assessment of the transient behaviour of various transmutation systems. The CRP will integrate benchmarking of transient/accident codes focusing on the phenomena and effects relevant to various critical and sub-critical systems under severe neutron flux changes and rearrangements. The main thrust will be on long (as compared to the neutron lifetime) time scale effects of transients initiated by strong perturbations of the core and/or the neutron source of the sub-critical core. The behavior of different transmutter systems under various transient conditions will be assessed, focusing on changes of flux-shape and power caused by reactivity perturbations in systems with dedicated fuels and on varying minor actinide content. The CRP will also pursue experimental benchamrk studies.

Related Internet sites

OECD/NEA: Partitioning & Transmutation of Minor Actinides and Fission Products.

First Research Coordination Meeting (kick-off meeting) of the Coordinated Research Project on "Studies of Innovative Reactor Technology Options for Effective Incineration of Radioactive Waste"

see also:

Working Material (ref: TWGFR-111) (restricted access only, contact scientific officer)
(format: pdf, 9596kB)

Second Research Coordination Meeting of the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on "Studies of Innovative Reactor Technology Options for Effective Incineration of Radioactive Waste"

see also:

Working Material (ref:TWGFR-124)
(format: pdf, 19190kB)