Misuse scenario analysis of accelerator-driven system and the effects of dual C/S and design information verification

Oizumi, Akito   ; Sagara, Hiroshi*

Research and development of transuranium (TRU) fuel cycles with accelerator drive systems (ADSs) transmuting minor actinides separated from the commercial cycles has been continuously conducted to reduce the high-level radioactive waste contained in spent fuel discharged from nuclear power plants. Since ADS could be misused to illegally produce Pu by using neutrons generated by the accelerator, a different approach from a conventional nuclear reactor would be needed. In this study, we have analyzed possible misuse scenarios of ADS quantitatively evaluated Pu that can be illegally produced within the design tolerance of ADS, and evaluated the effects of the Dual Containment and Surveillance(C/S) and the design information verification methods. As a result, it was quantitatively clarified that 10-60 kg of Pu could be generated clandestinely, and the dual C/S and design information verification with monitoring of the operation history of both accelerators and reactors could detect and prevent all the misuse scenarios effectively.