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The subcritical core is made of nuclear fuel. The core is constructed in such a way that it does not have enough fissile material to reach criticality. A value between 0.95 and 0.97 is foreseen for Keff. The core will act as a neutron amplifier of the primary spallation source. The energy spectrum of the subcritical core depends on the application of the core. Nevertheless, a fast neutron spectrum presents various advantages among them a larger excess of neutrons which can be used for minor actinide transmutation, a reduced amount of minor actinide production in the core itself, a better energetic yield for eventual energy production. |
For MYRRHA, it is envisaged to couple a fast spectrum zone where minor actinide transmutation studies, structural material research and ADS fuel studies can be performed, with a thermal spectrum island where radioisotope production, long-lived fission product transmutation research as well as LWR fuel safety studies can be conducted.