Superconducting accelerators for nuclear waste transmutation

Author

Pagani, C. ; Barni, D. ; Bellomo, G. ; Parodi, R. ; Pierini, P.

Author_Institution

LASA, Ist. Nazionale di Fisica Nucl., Milan, Italy

Volume

9

Issue

2

fYear

1999

fDate

6/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

869

Lastpage

872

Abstract

High intensity proton accelerators, with energies in excess of 1 GeV, have been proposed for nuclear waste transmutation applications. The large neutron flux, obtained by the spallation target, further multiplied in a subcritical reactor, could open the possibility of closing the fuel cycle in nuclear energy production. This new accelerator application asks for high overall plug efficiency and reliability, together with low particle losses for hands-on maintenance. Superconducting RF technology seems to be the best solution above an energy of 100-200 MeV, for the design of a cost effective machine in terms of both capital and operational costs. In this paper we review the design of the INFN/ENEA TRASCO high-energy accelerator.

Keywords

accelerator cavities; linear accelerators; proton accelerators; radioactive waste disposal; superconducting magnets; INFN/ENEA; TRASCO high-energy accelerator; capital costs; fuel cycle closing; hands-on maintenance; high intensity proton accelerators; high overall plug efficiency; large neutron flux; linear accelerator; low particle losses; nuclear energy production; nuclear waste incineration; nuclear waste transmutation; operational costs; reliability; spallation target; subcritical reactor; superconducting accelerators; Costs; Fuels; Inductors; Maintenance; Neutrons; Particle accelerators; Plugs; Production; Proton accelerators; Radioactive pollution;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/77.783434

Filename

783434