ThorEA Presentation 13 April 2010- Oxford

Title: Imperial College Reactor Centre – Proposal for ADSR Test Bed

Trevor Chambers

A Brief History of ICRC

• In 1961 UK Government announced programme to provide three low power reactors to be available to universities •Consort Reactor designed jointly by Mechanical Engineering Department of IC and GEC Ltd – commenced in 1962• Consort commenced operation in April 1965• Office building containing radiochemistry labs adjoining reactor hall completed in 1971• Used for over 40 years for research and teaching in reactor physics, reactor engineering, neutron physics, radiochemistry, activation analysis and radioisotope production

Basic Consort Reactor Data

• Swimming pool type• Moderated, cooled and partially shielded by light water• 24 fuel elements each containing 16 plates of enriched uranium• High purity Aluminium cladding• Maximum power 100kW• Controlled by four control rods• Main biological shield of concrete• Various beam facilities enable samples to be irradiated within core from seconds to hours• Rabbit systems exists to transfer samples direct to radiochemical labs if required

Recent Operational History

• Calibration facilities for neutron detectors• Production of isotopes and sources• Trace element detection and analysis• Teaching and Training• Shutdown pending NDA Site designation and final decommissioning on 31 March 2008• Review of further potential uses carried out May to Sept 09 following NDA non-designation• Revised PSR June 09• Re-commenced operations Nov 09• Currently being used for commercial work and training

Current Strategy

• Operate for next two to three years whilst preparing for decommissioning

• Explore further training, commercial and research possibilities

• Continue negotiations with NDA regarding final decommissioning

• Decide long term strategy ie further use or decommissioning

Possibilities for ADSR Test Bed

Basic scheme for test bed considered• Spallation target locations• Accelerator type and location• Potential experimental programme• Timescales• Cost• Potential to support prototype ADSR programme

• Basic principle to convert CONSORT to ADSR test bed has NII support subject to safety case approval

Reactor Cross Section showing Central Spallation Target Location

Plan View showing Central Spallation Target Location

Plan of Core showing Alternative Spallation Target Locations

Accelerator Location and Type

Potential Experimental Programme

• Assess optimum sub-criticality using control rods and current fuel

• Assess use of multiple spallation targets

• Assess suitability of different spallation target materials

• Assess transmutation possibilities

• Assess Thorium fuel designs

• Assess control of Thorium fuelled ADSR

• Assess potential to load follow with Thorium ADSR

• PIE of fuel and targets

• Potential to test ns-FFAG when built

Timescales and Ball Park Cost

Estimated base cost of £50M to deliver the programme

ID Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors Resource Names

1 Select/procure accelerator 390 days Mon 03/01/11 Fri 29/06/12

2 Write/approve safety case 585 days Mon 03/01/11 Fri 29/03/13

3 Install accelerator 135 days Mon 01/04/13 Fri 04/10/13 2,1

4 Design targets 195 days Mon 03/01/11 Fri 30/09/11

5 Design flight tubes 195 days Mon 03/01/11 Fri 30/09/11

6 Manufacture targets 70 days Fri 01/06/12 Thu 06/09/12 4,2SS+305 days

7 Manufacture flight tubes 205 days Fri 01/06/12 Thu 14/03/13 5,2SS+305 days

8 Install target 70 days Mon 01/04/13 Fri 05/07/13 2,6

9 Install filght tubes 190 days Mon 01/04/13 Fri 20/12/13 2,7

10 Civil works safety case 135 days Wed 01/06/11 Tue 06/12/11

11 NLS entry mods 135 days Mon 02/01/12 Fri 06/07/12 10

12 Remove workshop/store 135 days Mon 02/01/12 Fri 06/07/12 10

13 Construct new loading bay 135 days Mon 09/07/12 Fri 11/01/13 11,12

14 Research operations with current fuel270 days Mon 23/12/13 Fri 02/01/15 8,9,13,3

15 Design Thorium fuel 135 days Wed 01/06/11 Tue 06/12/11

16 Manufacture Thorium fuel 270 days Mon 03/06/13 Fri 13/06/14 15

17 Defuel Uranium fuel 270 days Mon 05/01/15 Fri 15/01/16 14

18 Install Thorium fuel 70 days Mon 18/01/16 Fri 22/04/16 17

19 Thorium ADSR research operations700 days Mon 25/04/16 Fri 28/12/18 18

20 PIE at NNL? 425 days Mon 10/04/17 Fri 23/11/18 19SS+250 days

21 Defuel Thorium 135 days Mon 24/02/20 Fri 28/08/20 19FS+300 days

22 Remove accelerator, target and flight tubes135 days Mon 24/02/20 Fri 28/08/20 19FS+300 days

23 ADSR Test Bed Operations Complete0 days Fri 28/08/20 Fri 28/08/20 21,22,20,16 28/08

Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 22010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017ID Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors Resource Names

1 Select/procure accelerator 390 days Mon 03/01/11 Fri 29/06/12

2 Write/approve safety case 585 days Mon 03/01/11 Fri 29/03/13

3 Install accelerator 135 days Mon 01/04/13 Fri 04/10/132,1

4 Design targets 195 days Mon 03/01/11 Fri 30/09/11

5 Design flight tubes 195 days Mon 03/01/11 Fri 30/09/11

6 Manufacture targets 70 days Fri 01/06/12 Thu 06/09/124,2SS+305 days

7 Manufacture flight tubes 205 days Fri 01/06/12 Thu 14/03/135,2SS+305 days

8 Install target 70 days Mon 01/04/13 Fri 05/07/132,6

9 Install f ilght tubes 190 days Mon 01/04/13 Fri 20/12/132,7

10 Civil works safety case 135 days Wed 01/06/11 Tue 06/12/11

11 NLS entry mods 135 days Mon 02/01/12 Fri 06/07/1210

12 Remove workshop/store 135 days Mon 02/01/12 Fri 06/07/1210

13 Construct new loading bay 135 days Mon 09/07/12 Fri 11/01/1311,12

14 Research operations with current fuel270 days Mon 23/12/13 Fri 02/01/158,9,13,3

15 Design Thorium fuel 135 days Wed 01/06/11 Tue 06/12/11

16 Manufacture Thorium fuel 270 days Mon 03/06/13 Fri 13/06/1415

17 Defuel Uranium fuel 270 days Mon 05/01/15 Fri 15/01/1614

18 Install Thorium fuel 70 days Mon 18/01/16 Fri 22/04/1617

19 Thorium ADSR research operations700 days Mon 25/04/16 Fri 28/12/1818

20 PIE at NNL? 425 days Mon 10/04/17 Fri 23/11/1819SS+250 days

21 Defuel Thorium 135 days Mon 24/02/20 Fri 28/08/2019FS+300 days

22 Remove accelerator, target and flight tubes135 days Mon 24/02/20 Fri 28/08/2019FS+300 days

23 ADSR Test Bed Operations Complete0 days Fri 28/08/20 Fri 28/08/2021,22,20,16 28/08

Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 42010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020ID Task Name Duration Start

1 Select/procure accelerator 390 days Mon 03/01/11

2 Write/approve safety case 585 days Mon 03/01/11

3 Install accelerator 135 days Mon 01/04/13

4 Design targets 195 days Mon 03/01/11

5 Design flight tubes 195 days Mon 03/01/11

6 Manufacture targets 70 days Fri 01/06/12

7 Manufacture flight tubes 205 days Fri 01/06/12

8 Install target 70 days Mon 01/04/13

9 Install filght tubes 190 days Mon 01/04/13

10 Civil works safety case 135 days Wed 01/06/11

11 NLS entry mods 135 days Mon 02/01/12

12 Remove workshop/store 135 days Mon 02/01/12

13 Construct new loading bay 135 days Mon 09/07/12

14 Research operations with current fuel 270 days Mon 23/12/13

15 Design Thorium fuel 135 days Wed 01/06/11

16 Manufacture Thorium fuel 270 days Mon 03/06/13

17 Defuel Uranium fuel 270 days Mon 05/01/15

18 Install Thorium fuel 70 days Mon 18/01/16

19 Thorium ADSR research operations 700 days Mon 25/04/16

20 PIE at NNL? 425 days Mon 10/04/17

21 Defuel Thorium 135 days Mon 24/02/20

22 Remove accelerator, target and flight tubes 135 days Mon 24/02/20

23 ADSR Test Bed Operations Complete 0 days Fri 28/08/20 28/08

Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr 12010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Potential to Support Prototype ADSR Programme

Cost effective solution to provide:

• early data to feed into prototype design details such as spallation targets, fuel designs, core layout, level of sub-criticality

• data to assess transmutation possibilities and hence core arrangement• data to assist design of reactor control systems• confidence to commercial backers and government