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Research reactor
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Research reactors are nuclear reactors that serve primarily as a neutron source. They are also called non-power reactors, in contrast to power reactors that are used for electricity production, heat generation, or submarine propulsion.
neutrons produced by a research reactor are used for non-destructive testing, analysis and testing of materials, production of radioisotopes, research and public outreach and education.
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Encyclopedia
Research reactors are nuclear reactors that serve primarily as a neutron source. They are also called non-power reactors, in contrast to power reactors that are used for electricity production, heat generation, or submarine propulsion.
Purpose
The neutrons produced by a research reactor are used for non-destructive testing, analysis and testing of materials, production of radioisotopes, research and public outreach and education. Research reactors that produce radioisotopes for medical or industrial use are sometimes called isotope reactors. Reactors that are optimised for beamline experiments nowadays compete with spallation sources.
Technical Aspects
Research reactors are simpler than power reactors and operate at lower temperatures. They need far less fuel, and far less fission products build up as the fuel is used. On the other hand, their fuel requires more highly enriched uranium, typically up to 20% U-235, although some use 93% U-235. They also have a very high power density in the core, which requires special design features. Like power reactors, the core needs cooling, typically natural or forced convection with water, and a moderator is required to slow down the neutrons and enhance fission. As neutron production is their main function, most research reactors benefit from reflectors to reduce neutron loss from the core.
Conversion to LEU
The U.S. Department of Energy initiated a program in 1978 to develop the means to convert research reactors from using highly enriched uranium to the use of low enriched uranium, in support of its nonproliferation policy. By that time the U.S. had supplied research reactors and highly enriched uranium to 41 countries as part of its Atoms for Peace program. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Energy extended its Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel Acceptance program until 2019.
Also in 2004, the Texas A&M reactor switched to LEU after decades using HEU. These changes are a part of an anti-terrorism initiative since 9/11 headed up by the Bush Administration.
Classes of Research Reactors
Research centers that operate a reactor:
- Helsinki Univercity of Technology in Espoo, Finland
- Institut Laue-Langevin, a French-German-British neutron source in Grenoble, France
- CONSORT, a 100kW reactor operated by Imperial College at a site near Ascot, Berkshire, England.
- ZED-2 (1960–) at AECL's Chalk River Laboratories near Deep River, Ontario, Canada
- McMaster Nuclear Reactor (5 MW, 1959–) in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- National Research Universal Reactor (135 MW, 200MW, 1957–) at AECL's Chalk River Laboratories near Deep River, Ontario, Canada
- Petten nuclear reactors (30 kW and 60MW, 1960–) in Petten, Netherlands
- Orphee of the Laboratoire Leon Brillouin at Saclay, France
- FRM II at Technische Universität München in Garching, Germany (20 MW, 2004–)
- BER II located at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin in Berlin, Germany (10 MW)
- IRT-2000 (2 MW) research reactor at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences research site, Sofia, Bulgaria.
- OPAL (20MW, 2007?–) at Lucas Heights near Sydney, Australia
- Pool-type reactor at Moscow Engineering Physics Institute in Moscow.
- SAFARI-1 at NECSA, Pelindaba, South Africa
- HANARO at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in Daejeon, South Korea
Decommissioned research reactors:
- ASTRA, 10MW, 1960–1999, in Seibersdorf, Austria
- JASON reactor (Argonaut, 10 kW, 1962–1996) in a 17th century building at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich near London
- MOATA ((Argonaut, 100 kW, 1961–1995) and HIFAR (DIDO, 1958–2007 at Lucas Heights near Sydney, Australia
- NPD reactor (20 MW, 1961–1987) at AECL's Rolfton near Deep River, Ontario Canada
- NRX (1952–1992) at AECL's Chalk River Laboratories in Deep River, Ontario, Canada
- PLUTO reactor (DIDO, 26MW, 1957–1990) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, England
- Pool Test Reactor (10 kW, 1957–1990) at AECL's Chalk River Laboratories in Deep River, Ontario, Canada
- WR-1 (60 MW, 1965–1985) at AECL's Whiteshell Laboratories, near Pinawa, Manitoba
- ZEEP (1945–1973) of the Chalk River Laboratories in Deep River, Ontario, Canada
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