An Accelerator-Based Neutron Source for Supporting Science and Technology Development

Abstract

An electron accelerator driven neutron source (EADNS) is described that can be used for studying the behavior of new reactor materials and fuels, isotope production, neutron radiography, validation or generation of nuclear data for reactor physics codes, semiconductor processing, and for neutron scattering. The source can be augmented by adding other neutron source targets, moderators, and sub-critical reactor blankets. It could also be used to drive a uranium target inside a Super Critical Water (SCW) loop, producing both fission (approximately 3 kW) and extra heat from bremsstrahlung heating (from 10 to 30 kW, depending on amount of uranium present). If a sub-critical assembly were used in conjunction with an SCW coolant loop, it should be possible to reach a neutron flux in excess of 10^13 n/cm2/s. This flux would be high enough to test many of the important corrosion issues that need to be addressed in SCW research programs. The same approach could be used to drive a loop for other technologies, such as molten salt fuel/coolant or liquid metal coolant reactor technologies. This source could address some of the issues arising from the impending and expected closure of the National Research Universal (NRU) multi-purpose research reactor at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. Similar sources are now being used in Europe and other nations to complement the use of research reactors, or to fill the gaps left by their closure [1].