Nuclear Science

Has the Department of Energy (DOE) given full and fair consideration to using a particle accelerator for tritium production? In a 1987 report, DOE's Energy Research Advisory Board assessed the feasibility of using an accelerator to produce tritium. GAO concludes that the criteria used to assess the accelerator technology did not provide the flexibility necessary to assess and report on the advantages of relatively small-size accelerators. Cost estimates for accelerators to produce tritium are very uncertain because a detailed design has not been done. Further study is needed to develop meaningful cost estimates. Recent decreases in projected tritium needs for servicing existing and planned nuclear weapons, and a new target concept for the accelerator technology may provide significant benefits. The projected decrease in the need for tritium could make the small accelerators more attractive because they may be capable of meeting future tritium needs, thus reducing the amount of electric power needed for the process. In addition, the successful development of the helium-3 target could almost eliminate radioactive waste from the tritium production cycle. While GAO takes no position on constructing an accelerator for the production of tritium, it does believe that it is valid technology that deserves more balanced consideration.

GAO found that: (1) the ERAB report did not provide a complete assessment of the accelerator technology for tritium production, since the criteria ERAB used limited the scope of its assessment to a large accelerator capable of producing 100 percent of the 1988 tritium needs; (2) although the accelerator's electric power requirement could be disadvantageous, since it could require the construction of a new generating facility, ERAB did not consider smaller accelerators that could be deployed to provide more flexibility in meeting changes in the demand for tritium; (3) the ERAB cost estimates for the accelerator technology were higher than previous estimates due to higher ERAB cost estimates for contingencies to cover the risk in building the entire structure and for annual operating costs; (4) decreases in the projected future need for tritium to service existing and planned nuclear weapons may make the use of a small accelerator for tritium more attractive; (5) the successful development of the helium-3 target could almost eliminate radioactive waste from the tritium production cycle; and (6) although the use of accelerators for tritium production has potential benefits over reactor technologies, those benefits must be weighed against the maturity of the technology and uncertain cost.