C. Petrovich

Study of isotopes production for the SPES project

Abstract The Monte Carlo calculations for the isotopes production in the UCx target (SPES project) are considered. The fragments are generated from the fission of 238 U, using fast neutrons coming from a converter target (two target scheme). The neutron production yields from the converter target, as well as the energy and angular distributions from different material targets have been investigated. In all simulations, using the MCNPX code, we refer to a proton primary beam at 100 MeV energy, 1 mA, 100 kW power on the converter. The number of fissions (about 10 13 fissions/s) and the production rates of neutron-rich nuclei were calculated for different converter materials.

Notes on the Philosophical Status of Nuclear Physics

In our paper we propose a philosophicalanalysis, based on the notion ofphenomenological model, of Nuclear Physics. Inthis way, we will show some peculiarities ofthis branch of physics.

Lead Fast Reactor Sustainability

The electricity production systems, especially those based on nuclear fission, are increasingly facing more tight constraints and are subjected to more deep analyses based on the three aspects of economical sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Nuclear Reactors future development has been outlined in the framework of the GIF (Generation IV International Forum), where the Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) is placed among the most promising innovative solutions. Many aspects of LFR offer a huge improvement from different points of view. The non pressurization of the system and the absence of sources of hazardous chemical potential energy enhances consistently its safety aspects, improving the perception of inherent safety of the Generation IV (G4) reactors in the public opinion. At the moment, due to the abundance of the new fossil resources, the competitiveness of Nuclear Power Plants is severely challenged, this aspect representing the most difficult to manage, besides the public acceptability. Moreover, for G4 reactors, an additional “cost premium” associated with the innovative technological concept has to be taken into account. Conversely, looking at the mid-term future, the real economical comparison has to be performed considering as competing sources, according to the IPCC recommendations and constraints enacted by the European Community, only CO2 free sources. In this context, economical competitiveness could be regained depending on the “cost premium” to be added to fossil fuels to become CO2 free, through the improvement of the carbon separation and storage techniques. The intrinsic lead properties (e.g.: low absorption cross section) permit to easily design LFR flexible cores, optimized with respect to a number of possible goals, as a long-lived core with minimal reactivity swing intended for battery concepts, or what is called an “adiabatic” core, where the entire Pu and MA inventory in the spent fuel can be indefinitely reused in a closed fuel cycle. The latter option allows to limit the waste throughput to the fission products only (along with the — unavoidable — losses from fuel reprocessing), and to benefit of natural resources minimization. These are both specific Generation IV goals envisioned to reach nuclear energy sustainability. An overall fuel cycle balance in a scenario with a step by step introduction of LFR reactors fleet grown in a specific geographical area, is in details analyzed in [1] and presented in this conference.Copyright

The SPES Direct Target Project at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro

The construction of the Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) Facility SPES‐DT, within the framework of the new European RIB panorama is under study at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The present project will be devoted to the production of neutron rich exotic nuclei, by using the fission process induced by a 40 MeV proton beam, 200 μA current, on a multi‐sliced Uranium Carbide (UCx) target. The UCx multiple thin disks target, developed at LNL is designed so that the power released by the proton beam is mainly dissipated by irradiation. Following the idea of the existing HRIBF facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA) where a proton primary beam of 40 MeV is also used, our target configuration is an evolution which permits to sustain a higher power on target. A high number of fission products (up to 1013 fission/s) will be obtained, still keeping a low power density deposition inside the target. The whole facility, together with the details on the Direct Target configuration, will be described. Thermo‐mec...

The SiC Direct Target Prototype for SPES

A R&D study for the realization of a Direct Target is in progress within the SPES project for RIBs production at the Laboratori Nazionali of Legnaro. A proton beam (40 MeV energy, 0.2 mA current) is supposed to impinge directly on a UCx multiple thin disks target, the power released by the proton beam is dissipated mainly through irradiation. A SiC target prototype with a 1:5 scale has been developed and tested. Thermal, mechanical and release calculations have been performed to fully characterize the prototype. An online test has been performed at the HRIBF facility of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), showing that our SiC target can sustain a proton beam current considerably higher than the maximum beam current used with the standard HRIBF target configuration.