ZEBRA, the First Stage of an Accelerator Breeder Program
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Abstract
It may be essential to have an option in the future that could supply some of the fissile fuel requirements for nuclear power stations operating on advanced fuel cycles. An option that looks attractive technologically is the accelerator breeder. Protons, accelerated to high energies (> 1 GeV), produce a copious number of neutrons from spallation reactions in the high atomic number target used to stop the bean. These neutrons can be used to convert fertile material to fissile material in an appropriate blanket surrounding the target. Reprocessing of the blanket material provides the fuel that can be burned in fission reactors generating electricity.
Research and development work associated with an accelerator breeder program has been underway at CRNL for a number of years. Most of the activities have been directed towards the development of the technology required for suitable high-current, high-energy linear accelerators. The accelerator technology has a firm foundation based on accelerators built for medium- and high-energy particle physics research throughout the world.
The rationale for an accelerator breeder development program involving four stages is described along with associated economics and design optimization. A staged development program permits periodic reviews in the light of technological developments and future considerations, including social, political and economic factors. A description of each stage and the opportunities available for research and development are given. The first stage, a 300 mA - 10 MeV proton linac, ZEBRA (Zero Energy BReeder Accelerator), is described in more detail including the status of siting the ZEBRA project at a new laboratory in Quebec.
Prior to construction of ZERRA, a number of pre-ZEBRA activities are underway in the accelerator and the target/blanket areas. These activities are described in relation to the overall program goals.