Accelerator driven energy production: a comment

An analytical solution of the burn up equations with a time dependent flux in a molten salt accelerator driven subcritical system (ADSS) is obtained. A simple formula for the time required to reach a given concentration of U233 starting with only Thorium (Th) is deduced. It is shown that the time required for such a reactor to reach full power is much larger than stated in a recent report from Los Alamos. Addition of another naturally occurring fuel, viz. natural U could, however, bring down this time to any desired value.