Russian media focus: The energy of a thousand years - China is building a reactor that "burns" nuclear waste.

China's "neutron rain" is largely derived from Russian R&D achievements.

Americans are also not lagging behind, they are testing "fission" (technology, but using mercury targets.

March 11, Russian media published an article.

Physicists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have entered the final stage of superconducting particle accelerator assembly.

The location is in Guangdong Province, where they are building ADS - a subcritical system controlled by an accelerator.

If everything goes according to plan, the world will witness the birth of the first megawatt-level device in 2027, which can not only generate electricity but also "consume" its own waste.

Xia Yuanqing, vice director of the Institute of Modern Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: The system consumes uranium with 100 times the efficiency of traditional reactors.

According to experts' calculations, building such a "closed-loop cycle" will provide humanity with a stable "green" energy source for a thousand years.

Structurally, it is a hybrid of a classic reactor and a strong accelerator.

Ordinary power plants operate through self-sustaining chain reactions, but here the situation is completely different.

The subcritical system requires a continuous supply of neutrons from the outside for "replenishment."

The superconducting linear accelerator accelerates protons to 80% of the speed of light.

When this proton beam hits a lead-bismuth alloy target, it produces a strong neutron shower, thus maintaining the reaction in the active area.

The second life of uranium waste.

Neutron bombardment converts uranium-238, which has been stored in warehouses for decades and considered useless waste, into plutonium-239.

In essence, physicists have turned waste into fully usable fuel.

Additionally, this reactor cannot "run away" physically: as soon as the accelerator is turned off, the reaction stops immediately.

Natural laws are more reliable than any electronic safety device here.

The concept of ADS was set aside since the 1980s, but it has now truly been industrialized.

Beijing launched a large-scale research project in 2011.

After 10 years, the prototype has reached the power required for industry, and it is expected that by the end of 2026, all key components will be assembled.

Russia's presence in the global competition.

Russia is not only a participant in this technological race, but also the "backstage player" behind the technical decisions on which modern ADS systems are based.

The core of China's ambitious project is the lead-bismuth target.

This approach was perfected during the Soviet era, used in the construction of the 705-type "Lira" class nuclear submarines.

Russia's approach emphasizes practicality.

As part of the "Breakthrough" large project, the Brest-OD-300 reactor is under construction.

It also aims to achieve a closed fuel cycle, while Rosatom is also designing specialized "burning reactors."

An interesting picture.

While China is building the first demonstration unit of the megawatt level, the Russian school is working on integrating ADS components into the ongoing dual-component energy system.

This is a combination of thermal reactors and fast reactors.

Russian scientists have always had strong capabilities in materials science and beam physics.

Therefore, China's "neutron rain" is largely derived from Russian R&D achievements.

Americans are also not lagging behind.

In the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory, which is under the U.S. Department of Energy, they are also testing "fission" technology, but using mercury targets.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1859328038914056/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.