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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2011}}
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[[File:Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Schemata.svg|500px|right|Lead cooled fast reactor scheme]]
{{copy edit|for=translation errors, the source text was French|date=June 2014}}
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The '''MYRRHA''' ('''Multi-purpose hYbrid Research Reactor for High-tech Applications''') is a "first of its kind" design project of a [[nuclear reactor]] coupled to a [[proton accelerator]] (a so-called [[Subcritical reactor|Accelerator-driven system]] (ADS)). MYRRHA will be a [[lead-cooled fast reactor]] with two possible configurations: sub-critical or critical.
{{overlinked|date=June 2014}}

}}
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The project is managed by [[SCK•CEN]], the Belgium center for nuclear energy research. It will be built based on the experience gained from the first successful demonstration project: GUINEVERE.<ref>[http://news.sciencemag.org/physics/2012/01/reactor-accelerator-hybrid-achieves-successful-test-run Science Magazine, " Reactor-Accelerator Hybrid Achieves Successful Test Run"]</ref> In 2013, the project entered a new phase and the front-end engineering design was contracted out to a [[consortium]] led by French [[Multinational corporation|multinational]] group specializing in [[nuclear power|nuclear]] and [[renewable energy|renewable]] energy, [[Areva|AREVA]].<ref>[http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-MYRRHA_accelerates_towards_realisation-1510137.html World Nuclear News, "MYRRHA accelerates towards realisation"]</ref><ref>[http://www.areva.com/EN/news-9973/areva-ta-wins-contract-for-the-MYRRHA-project.html AREVA official website, "AREVA TA WINS CONTRACT FOR THE MYRRHA PROJECT"]</ref>


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MYRRHA has an international recognition and has been listed in December 2010 by the [[European Commission]] as one of 50 projects to make Europe the leader in high-tech research in the next 20 years.<ref>[http://cordis.europa.eu/result/brief/rcn/11105_fr.html European Commission, "Targeting nuclear waste with a proton beam"]</ref>
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The MYRRHA (Multi-Purpose Hybrid Research Reactor for high technological Applications) is a "first of its kind" design project of a nuclear reactor coupled to a proton accelerator (a so-called [[Subcritical reactor|Accelerator-driven system (ADS)]]). This will be a '[[Lead-cooled fast reactor]]' with two possible configurations: sub-critical or critical.
⚫
The project is managed by [[SCK•CEN]], the Belgium center for nuclear energy research. It will be built based on the experience gained from a first successful demonstrator: GUINEVERE.<ref>[http://news.sciencemag.org/physics/2012/01/reactor-accelerator-hybrid-achieves-successful-test-run Science Magazine, " Reactor-Accelerator Hybrid Achieves Successful Test Run"]</ref> In 2013 the project entered a new phase with a contract for the front-end engineering design awarded to a consortium led by Areva.<ref>[http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Myrrha_accelerates_towards_realisation-1510137.html World Nuclear News, "Myrrha accelerates towards realisation"]</ref><ref>[http://www.areva.com/EN/news-9973/areva-ta-wins-contract-for-the-myrrha-project.html AREVA official website, "AREVA TA WINS CONTRACT FOR THE MYRRHA PROJECT"]</ref>
⚫
MYRRHA has an international recognition and has been listed in December 2010 by the European commission<ref>[http://cordis.europa.eu/result/brief/rcn/11105_fr.html European commission, " Targeting nuclear waste with a proton beam"]</ref> as one of 50 projects to keep Europe the leader in high-tech research in the next 20 years.


MYRRHA is a research reactor aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of the ADS concept and the lead-cooled fast reactor concepts, with various applications from spent-fuel burning to material irradiation testing.<ref>[http://www.iaea.org/INPRO/2nd_Dialogue_Forum/MYRRHA_IAEA_INPRO_7.10.pdf IAEA website, " MYRRHA, An innovative and unique irradiation research facility"]</ref>
MYRRHA is a [[research reactor]] aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of the ADS and the [[lead-cooled fast reactor]] concepts, with various applications from [[Spent nuclear fuel|spent-fuel]] burning to material irradiation testing.<ref>[http://www.iaea.org/INPRO/2nd_Dialogue_Forum/MYRRHA_IAEA_INPRO_7.10.pdf IAEA website, " MYRRHA, An innovative and unique irradiation research facility"]</ref>
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[[File:Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Schemata.svg|right|500px|thumb|Lead cooled fast reactor scheme]]


== Special features ==
== Special features ==


=== Accelerator ===
=== Accelerator ===
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The ADS concept consists of coupling a subcritical [[Nuclear reactor core|reactor core]] with a proton accelerator. The [[neutron]]s missing missing from the sub-critical core in order to sustain the [[Nuclear chain reaction|chain reaction]] originate from the spaliation reaction of high energy [[Charged particle beam|proton beam]] with a [[Heavy metal (chemistry)|heavy metal]]] target. In order to operate a subcritical core with multiplication factor of k=0.95, a [[particle accelerator]] able to provide a maximum [[Current (electricity)|current]] of 4 mA beam of 600 MeV protons is needed. The option of a [[cyclotron]] is currently preferred.


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Due to the extreme rarity of such a stable accelerated proton beam, the MYRRHA project decided to include a fundamental physics experiment called Isol@MYRRHA<ref>[http://isolMYRRHA.sckcen.be/ Isol@MYRRHA]</ref> using a fraction of the proton beam.
⚫
The ADS concept consists of coupling a subcritical reactor core with a proton accelerator. The neutrons missing from the sub-critical core in order to sustain the chain reaction originate from the spaliation reaction of high energy proton beam with a heavy metal target.
In order to operate a subcritical core with multiplication factor of k=0.95, a particle accelerator able to provide a maximum current of 4 mA beam of 600 MeV protons is needed. The option of a linear proton accelerator (LINAC), despite its higher cost is currently preferred for its high performance.

⚫
Due to the extreme rarity of such a stable accelerated proton beam, the Myrrha project decided to include a fundamental physics experiment called Isol@myrrha using a fraction of the proton beam.


=== Spallation target ===
=== Spallation target ===
⚫
The spallation reaction requires a high Z material, chemical elements with a high [[atomic number]] (Z) of protons in the nucleus, as a target. For the MYRRHA project, the coolant itself ([[Eutectic system|eutectic]] liquid [[lead]]-[[bismuth]]) is foreseen in a windowless design. Windowless target necessitate to create a flow that will form a jet regime around the beam line output. It reduces the attenuation of the beam, but it is complex to maintain the jet regime around the beam line without interfering on the quality of the void in the pipes. Besides, lead is a very dense fluid.

⚫
The spallation reaction requires a high Z material as a target. For the Myrrha project, the coolant itself (eutectic liquid lead-bismuth) is foreseen in a windowless design. Windowless target necessitate to create a flow that will form a jet regime around the beam line output. It reduces the attenuation of the beam, but it is complex to maintain the jet regime around the beam line without interfering on the quality of the void in the pipes. Besides, lead is a very dense fluid.


=== Fuel elements ===
=== Fuel elements ===
⚫
[[MOX fuel|Mixed oxide fuel]] (MOX) with an enrichment of 35% is planned to be used in the core. [[Austenitic stainless steel]] cladding allows for good corrosion resistance along with known behavior in the nuclear industry.

⚫
Mixed oxide fuel (MOX) with an enrichment of 35% is planned to be used in the core. Austenitic stainless steel cladding allows for good corrosion resistance along with known behavior in the nuclear industry.


=== Subcritical core ===
=== Subcritical core ===
⚫
An important feature is the flexibility of MYRRHA, allowing two possible core configurations: subcritical or critical.


⚫
Three slots are left empty at the center of the core to allow space for the spaliation target or for material irradiation. The subcritical core has an effective multiplication factor of 0.95: this is a unique feature in the world of nuclear reactors and will allow very innovative applications for MYRRHA such as [[actinide]]s burning or very long cycle operation.
⚫
An important feature is the flexibility of MYRRHA, allowing two possible core configurations: subcritical or critical.
Three slots are left empty at the center of the core to allow space for the spaliation target or for material irradiation.
⚫
The subcritical core has an effective multiplication factor of 0.95: this is a unique feature in the world of nuclear reactors and will allow very innovative applications for MYRRHA such as actinides burning or very long cycle operation.


=== Mechanical design ===
=== Mechanical design ===
⚫
MYRRHA is a pool type lead-bismuth reactor; therefore the mechanical features will be a very heavy core, atmospheric pressure for primary. The coolant is very corrosive but operating temperature is quite low. An additional constraint is the opacity of lead-bismuth.

⚫
Myrrha is a pool type lead-bismuth reactor: therefore the mechanical features will be a very heavy core, atmospheric pressure for primary. The coolant is very corrosive but operating temperature is quite low. An additional constraint is the opacity of lead-bismuth.


== Towards validation ==
== Towards validation ==
⚫
Recently, MYRRHA has entered a new phase in the validation process, with two new experiments aimed at providing insight into the thermo-hydraulic and resistance to earthquakes.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=L'echo|date={{date|2014-01-31}}|page=6|title=Deux installations test dédiées au futur réacteur nucléaire MYRRHA|language=French|trans_title=Two test facilities dedicated to future nuclear reactor MYRRHA}}</ref>

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Recently, MYRRHA has entered a new phase in the validation process, with two new experiments aimed at providing insight into the thermo-hydraulic and resistance to earthquakes.<ref>[Journal L'echo, VENDREDI 31 JANVIER 2014, p6: "Deux installations test dédiées au futur réacteur nucléaire Myrrha"]</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

{{colbegin|3}}
{{colbegin|3}}
*[[Fast breeder reactor]]
*[[Fast breeder reactor]]
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== References ==
== References ==
{{refimprove}}

{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://myrrha.sckcen.be/en Myrrha official website]
* [http://myrrha.sckcen.be/en MYRRHA official website]
* [http://isolmyrrha.sckcen.be/ Isol@myrrha official website]
* [http://isolmyrrha.sckcen.be/ Isol@MYRRHA official website]

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2011}}

{{improve categories|date=June 2014}}


[[Category:Energy conversion]]
[[Category:Lead]]
[[Category:Liquid metal fast reactors]]
[[Category:Liquid metal fast reactors]]
[[Category:Subcritical reactor]]
[[Category:Neutron sources]]
[[Category:Accelerator-driven sub-critical reactor]]
[[Category:Nuclear power reactor types]]
[[Category:Nuclear reactors]]
[[Category:Nuclear reactors]]
[[Category:Nuclear research reactors]]
[[Category:Nuclear technology]]
[[Category:Particle physics]]
[[Category:Particle physics]]
[[Category:Power station technology]]
[[Category:Pressure vessels]]

Revision as of 13:04, 18 June 2014

Lead cooled fast reactor scheme
Lead cooled fast reactor scheme

The MYRRHA (Multi-purpose hYbrid Research Reactor for High-tech Applications) is a "first of its kind" design project of a nuclear reactor coupled to a proton accelerator (a so-called Accelerator-driven system (ADS)). MYRRHA will be a lead-cooled fast reactor with two possible configurations: sub-critical or critical.

The project is managed by SCK•CEN, the Belgium center for nuclear energy research. It will be built based on the experience gained from the first successful demonstration project: GUINEVERE.[1] In 2013, the project entered a new phase and the front-end engineering design was contracted out to a consortium led by French multinational group specializing in nuclear and renewable energy, AREVA.[2][3]

MYRRHA has an international recognition and has been listed in December 2010 by the European Commission as one of 50 projects to make Europe the leader in high-tech research in the next 20 years.[4]

MYRRHA is a research reactor aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of the ADS and the lead-cooled fast reactor concepts, with various applications from spent-fuel burning to material irradiation testing.[5]

Special features

Accelerator

The ADS concept consists of coupling a subcritical reactor core with a proton accelerator. The neutrons missing missing from the sub-critical core in order to sustain the chain reaction originate from the spaliation reaction of high energy proton beam with a heavy metal] target. In order to operate a subcritical core with multiplication factor of k=0.95, a particle accelerator able to provide a maximum current of 4 mA beam of 600 MeV protons is needed. The option of a cyclotron is currently preferred.

Due to the extreme rarity of such a stable accelerated proton beam, the MYRRHA project decided to include a fundamental physics experiment called Isol@MYRRHA[6] using a fraction of the proton beam.

Spallation target

The spallation reaction requires a high Z material, chemical elements with a high atomic number (Z) of protons in the nucleus, as a target. For the MYRRHA project, the coolant itself (eutectic liquid lead-bismuth) is foreseen in a windowless design. Windowless target necessitate to create a flow that will form a jet regime around the beam line output. It reduces the attenuation of the beam, but it is complex to maintain the jet regime around the beam line without interfering on the quality of the void in the pipes. Besides, lead is a very dense fluid.

Fuel elements

Mixed oxide fuel (MOX) with an enrichment of 35% is planned to be used in the core. Austenitic stainless steel cladding allows for good corrosion resistance along with known behavior in the nuclear industry.

Subcritical core

An important feature is the flexibility of MYRRHA, allowing two possible core configurations: subcritical or critical.

Three slots are left empty at the center of the core to allow space for the spaliation target or for material irradiation. The subcritical core has an effective multiplication factor of 0.95: this is a unique feature in the world of nuclear reactors and will allow very innovative applications for MYRRHA such as actinides burning or very long cycle operation.

Mechanical design

MYRRHA is a pool type lead-bismuth reactor; therefore the mechanical features will be a very heavy core, atmospheric pressure for primary. The coolant is very corrosive but operating temperature is quite low. An additional constraint is the opacity of lead-bismuth.

Towards validation

Recently, MYRRHA has entered a new phase in the validation process, with two new experiments aimed at providing insight into the thermo-hydraulic and resistance to earthquakes.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Science Magazine, " Reactor-Accelerator Hybrid Achieves Successful Test Run"
  2. ^ World Nuclear News, "MYRRHA accelerates towards realisation"
  3. ^ AREVA official website, "AREVA TA WINS CONTRACT FOR THE MYRRHA PROJECT"
  4. ^ European Commission, "Targeting nuclear waste with a proton beam"
  5. ^ IAEA website, " MYRRHA, An innovative and unique irradiation research facility"
  6. ^ Isol@MYRRHA
  7. ^ "Deux installations test dédiées au futur réacteur nucléaire MYRRHA". L'echo (in French): 6. 31 January 2014. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MYRRHA&oldid=613425523"