Gas production in the MEGAPIE spallation target

Author

Thiollière, Nicolas ; Zanini, Luca ; David, Jean-Christophe ; Eikenberg, Jost ; Guertin, Arnaud ; Konobeyev, Alexander Yu ; Lemaire, Sébastien ; Panebianco, Stefano

Author_Institution

IN2P3, EMN, SUBATECH, Univ. de Nantes, Nantes, France

fYear

2011

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

8

Abstract

The MEGAwatt PIlot Experiment (MEGAPIE) project was started in 2000 to design, build and operate a liquid Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) spallation neutron target at the power level of 1 MW. The target was irradiated for four months in 2006 at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. Gas samples were extracted in various phases of operation and analyzed by γ spectroscopy leading to the determination of the main radioactive isotopes released from the LBE. Comparison with calculations performed using several validated codes (MCNPX2.5.0/CINDER´90, FLUKA/ORIHET and SNT) yields the ratio between simulated in-target isotope production rates and experimental amount released at any given time. This work underlines the weak points of spallation models for some released isotopes. Also, results provide relevant information for safety and radioprotection in an Accelerator Driven System (ADS) and more particularly for the gas management in a spallation target dedicated to neutron production facilities.

Keywords

accelerator-based transmutation; fission reactor design; fission reactor safety; gamma-ray spectroscopy; neutron sources; nuclear engineering computing; radiation protection; radioisotopes; ADS safety; FLUKA/ORIHET; LBE; MCNPX2.5.0/CINDER´90; MEGAPIE spallation target; Megawatt Pilot Experiment; Paul Scherrer Institute; SNT; Switzerland; accelerator driven system; gamma spectroscopy; gas management; in-target isotope production rates; liquid lead-bismuth eutectic spallation neutron target; minor actinides transmutation; neutron production facilities; operation phase; radioactive isotopes; radioprotection; spallation models; Gases; Gold; Isotopes; Neutrons; Production; Radiation effects; Uncertainty;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), 2011 2nd International Conference on

Conference_Location

Ghent

Print_ISBN

978-1-4577-0925-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ANIMMA.2011.6172952

Filename

6172952