Research reactor
Science with neutrons |
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Foundations |
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Neutron scattering |
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Other applications |
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Neutron facilities |
Research reactors are nuclear fission-based 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 maritime propulsion.
Purpose
The
Technical aspects
Research reactors are simpler than power reactors and operate at lower temperatures. They need far less fuel, and far less
Conversion to low enriched uranium
The
As of 2016, a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report concluded converting all research reactors to LEU cannot be completed until 2035 at the earliest. In part this is because the development of reliable LEU fuel for high neutron flux research reactors, that does not fail through swelling, has been slower than expected.[5] As of 2020[update], 72 HEU research reactors remain.[6]
Designers and constructors
While in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s there were a number of companies that specialized in the design and construction of research reactors, the activity of this market cooled down afterwards, and many companies withdrew.
The market has consolidated today into a few companies that concentrate the key projects on a worldwide basis.
The most recent international tender (1999) for a research reactor was that organized by the
Classes of research reactors
- Aqueous homogeneous reactor
- Argonaut class reactor
- DIDO class, six high-flux reactors worldwide
- TRIGA, a highly successful class with >50 installations worldwide
- SLOWPOKE reactor class, developed by AECL, Canada
- OPAL reactorclass, developed by INVAP, Argentina
- Miniature neutron source reactor, based on the SLOWPOKE design, developed by AECL, currently exported by China
- Aerojet General Nucleonics, 201 Models. Developed by Aerojet General in the United States. 3 current reactors in operation at Idaho State University, The University of New Mexico, and Texas A&M University.
Research centers
.Research centers that operate a reactor:
Decommissioned research reactors:
References
- ^ Alrwashdeh, Mohammad, and Saeed A. Alameri. "Reactor Monte Carlo (RMC) model validation and verification in compare with MCNP for plate-type reactor." AIP Advances 9, no. 7 (2019): 075112. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5115807
- ^ "CRP on Conversion of Miniature Neutron Source Research Reactors (MNSR) to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU)". Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Waste Technology. International Atomic Energy Agency. 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on Jun 12, 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
- ^ "Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors". National Nuclear Security Administration. Archived from the original on 29 October 2004.
- ^ "U.S. Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel Acceptance". National Nuclear Security Administration. Archived from the original on 22 September 2006.
- ^ Cho, Adrian (28 January 2016). "Ridding research reactors of highly enriched uranium to take decades longer than projected". Science. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "IAEA highlights work to convert research reactors". World Nuclear News. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ a b c "Budapest Research Reactor | Budapest Neutron Centre ...for research, science and innovation!". www.bnc.hu. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "Institute for Nuclear Technology". reak.bme.hu. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ^ "Nuclear Reactors". pd.chem.ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ a b "RA-6 de Argentina" (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "Research reactors - Canadian Nuclear Association". Canadian Nuclear Association. Archived from the original on 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ "High Flux Reactor - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität. "Reactor". www.kernchemie.uni-mainz.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ a b "ATI : Reactor". ati.tuwien.ac.at. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ a b c "The reactor | National Research Nuclear University MEPhI". eng.mephi.ru. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ a b "SAFARI-1". www.necsa.co.za. Archived from the original on 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ a b "High-Flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor (HANARO) | Facilities | NTI". www.nti.org. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ a b "Research Reactor LVR-15 | Centrum výzkumu Řež". cvrez.cz. Archived from the original on 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
- ^ a b "History - Nuclear Reactor Program". Nuclear Reactor Program. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
- ^ "ATR Factsheet" (PDF). Idaho National Laboratory. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
- ^ a b "Maryland University Training Reactor (MUTR) | 250 kW TRIGA Reactor | University of Maryland Radiation Facilities". radiation.umd.edu/. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
- ^ "Nuclear Science Center Washington State University". nsc.wsu.edu. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
- ^ "Research Reactor Database - GHARR-1". International Atomic Energy Agency. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ "Ende der Neutronen-Ära". pro-physik.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- ^ "Winfrith's DRAGON loses its fire". www.nda.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ a b Karlsen, Wade; Vilkamo, Olli (2016-12-14). "Finland's old nuclear research reactor to be decommissioned – New Centre for Nuclear Safety under construction". VTT Impulse. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ "Research Reactor Database". International Atomic Energy Agency. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- WNA Information Paper # 61: Research Reactors Archived 2013-02-28 at the Wayback Machine
- Nuclear Nonproliferation: DOE Needs to Take Action to Further Reduce the Use of Weapons-Usable Uranium in Civilian Research Reactors, GAO, July 2004, GAO-04-807