Current status of scientific activity in Russia on high level radioactive waste transmutation and use of weapon grade and power plutonium in subcritical systems driven by proton accelerator Original Research Article

Features of neutron fuel cycles with the accelerator-driven system (ADS) as well as fission product and actinide transmutation in the ADS are analyzed in this paper: fuel type, fertile materials, neutron consumption, secondary radioactivity, change in radiotoxicity of actinides. The use of weapon-grade and power plutonium in the ADS is also considered. Information on various design versions of the ADS blanket including study of the sectioned blanket with neutron valves, its performance and R&D programme, including a neutron source driven by the 56.MeV “Istra” proton linac, is given.