Abstract
This paper deals with the results of the preliminary scoping analyses performed to assess the transmutation capability of an Accelerator Driven System cooled by LBE and loaded with MA-dedicated fuel assemblies. It also describes the constraints taken into account in the design of such cores and reports the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the hot fuel rod along the cycle under related irradiation conditions. The selected fuel is a U-free CERCER, the fissile phase being a solid solution of plutonium and MA oxides dispersed in a magnesia matrix. The neutronic core and thermo-mechanical fuel rod analyses were performed by the ERANOS and TRANSURANUS codes, respectively. The preliminary analysis shows that there is a good compromise between transmutation and core performance for an ADT having a power ranging from 200 to 400 MWth. Of course the increase of the core size has a significant implication on the overall plant architecture (accelerator, spallation module, decay heat removal system, etc.), which is discussed in the paper. The fuel pin analysis shows that the cladding integrity is assured during in-reactor residence.
