Review of AECL and International Work on Sub-critical Blankets Driven by Accelerator-Based and Fusion Neutron Sources

Abstract

A review of work done by AECL and the international community on the topics of accelerator-driven sub-critical systems (ADS) and hybrid fusion-fission reactors (HFFR) is given, spanning the period of 1953 to 2012. ADS/HFFRs have applications in power production, fissile fuel breeding, consumption of minor actinides (MAs), transmutation of long-lived fission products (LLFPs), and production of tritium. AECL carried out pioneering studies in ADS for breeding from 1963 to 1982, while maintaining a 'watching brief' on fusion technology, anticipating HFFRs as an early application. International work has focused on ADS for waste transmutation and HFFRs for fuel production, with excess power as a by-product.