Status of LBE study and experimental plan at JAEA

Saito, Shigeru   ; Wan, T.*; Okubo, Nariaki   ; Obayashi, Hironari  ; Watanabe, Nao  ; Ohdaira, Naoya*; Kinoshita, Hidetaka   ; Yamaki, Kenichi*; Kita, Satoshi*; Yoshimoto, Hidemitsu*; Sasa, Toshinobu   

An Accelerator Driven System (ADS) for waste transmutation investigated in JAEA employs lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) as a neutron production target material and coolant. The neutrons are to be produced via the spallation with 1.5 GeV proton beam injection. As materials irradiation data are important for ADS development, JAEA plans to construct an irradiation facility with LBE neutron production target in J-PARC. There are many technical issues on LBE for practical use. In JAEA, various R&Ds are being carried out. Concerning corrosion study, conditioning operation and functional tests of OLLOCHI started. Oxygen concentration control technology has also developing. In the large scale LBE loop experiment, the operation for steady state and transient experiments was performed by using IMMORTAL. In the area of instrument, development of ultrasonic flow meter and freeze seal valve are progressing as a key technology for the LBE loop system. Investigation of behavior of impurities in LBE, which is important for design of the irradiation facility, started. In this paper, the status of the LBE studies and experimental plan will be presented.