Performance on Actinide Transmutation of Lead-thorium Based Ads

The FACET group at CIEMAT is studying the properties and potentialities of several lead-cooled ADS designs for actinide and fission product transmutation. The main characteristics of these systems are the use of lead as primary coolant and moderator and fuels made by transuranics inside a thorium oxide matrix. The aim of the study is to analyse the effect of some operation parameters (fuel transuranics composition, thermal power and transuranics recycling scheme) in the ADS performance, mainly in the achieved transmutation rates and in the accelerator requirements. The model selected enhances the energy production by the U breeding from thorium seed. This breeding can maintain the neutron multiplication during long burnups, improving the transmutation capacity. The fuel inventory isotopic evolution during burnup will be presented illustrating the general capabilities of this strategic option for transuranics transmutation.