Application of gas-cooled Accelerator Driven System (ADS) transmutation devices to sustainable nuclear energy development

The conceptual design of a pebble bed gas-cooled transmutation device is shown with the aim to evaluate its potential for its deployment in the context of the sustainable nuclear energy development, which considers high temperature reactors for their operation in cogeneration mode, producing electricity, heat and Hydrogen. As differential characteristics our device operates in subcritical mode, driven by a neutron source activated by an accelerator that adds clear safety advantages and fuel flexibility opening the possibility to reduce the nuclear stockpile producing energy from actual LWR irradiated fuel with an efficiency of 45-46%, either in the form of Hydrogen, electricity, or both. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work has been done in the framework of technological international cooperation thanks to the MAEC-AECID grant program of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation with the support of the International Cooperation Program of the UPV.Abánades, A.; Garcia Hernandez, CR.; García Fajardo, L.; Escrivá, A.; Pérez-Navarro Gómez, Á.; Rosales, J. (2011). Application of gas-cooled Accelerator Driven System (ADS) transmutation devices to sustainable nuclear energy development. Nuclear Engineering and Design. (241):2288-2294. doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.03.0152288229424