| The purpose of the AFCI RACE Project
is to conduct subcritical nuclear experiments to contribute
to the understanding of neutron coupling in Accelerator-driven
Subcritical Systems (ADS). This knowledge of coupling between
particle accelerators (electron or proton), heavy metal targets,
and subcritical systems is necessary for the development of
accelerator-driven transmutation of nuclear waste from used
nuclear fuel.
The RACE Project is being completed under the direction of
Dr. Denis Beller for
the U.S. Department of Energy as a portion of the Advanced
Fuel Cycle Initiative. In ADS experiments, particle accelerators
provide neutrons to induce fission reactions in subcritical
systems. Similar experiments have been performed in the European
MUSE program (CEA, Cadarache, France) and in the recently
completed TRADE project (TRIGA Accelerator Driven Experiment,
ENEA, Cassacia, Italy). The RACE Project provides a larger
neutron source than MUSE or TRADE, and has provided data from
different accelerator/target/fuel configurations at ISU and
the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). A unique capability
stems from the compactness and transportability of the electron
accelerator and target systems, such that systems can be reconfigured
for a variety of studies.
The experimental centerpiece of the ISU phase of the RACE
Project is a 25-MeV linear electron accelerator and a solid
tungsten-copper target (75% W) coupled to a subcritical nuclear
assembly. The subcritical assembly consists of an aluminum
tank, 150 water-moderated uranium-aluminum fuel plates, and
a graphite reflector inside the tank. The ISU RACE system
is located in the "White Room" on the main IAC site.
From 2003 through 2006, four annual ADS workshops were convened
to discuss the use of accelerators in nuclear experiments
for the AFCI: Annual Idaho Accelerator-Driven Subcritical
Systems Workshops. These "ADSS" Workshops were focused
on the RACE Project, but also included presentations on related
international ADS research projects. The proceedings are available
from the Events page.
Initial
Results from the AFCI Reactor-accelerator Coupling Experiments
(RACE) Project
PDF
version
Partitioning and Transmutation:
LANL Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI)
Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC)
UNLV Transmutation Research Program (UNLV
TRP)
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The 25 MeV RACE LINAC
with the RACE sub-critical assembly inside an aluminum tank.
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