Publications Details

Radiological consequences of radioactivity release from spallation targets

Miller, L.A.; Williams, D.C.

A preconceptual design for an Accelerator Production of Tritium (APT) facility is currently under development by several national laboratories in conjunction with industry. The design consists of an accelerator that bombards a spallation target with high energy protons. Neutrons are produced in the spallation target and are absorbed in a blanket material to produce tritium. Two spallation targets are currently under investigation: (1) a tungsten neutron source target and (2) a lead neutron source target. In the tungsten target the neutrons are captured in helium-3, which is circulated through the system, thus producing tritium. The lead target is surrounded with a lithium-aluminum blanket and the tritium is produced in the lithium-6. The investigation of possible radiological impacts on the public is being performed as a part of the safety evaluations of the preconceptual design. These studies include the estimation of releases of radioactive materials from the two spallation targets and the possible impacts on the public.