Research reactor - Revision history

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energy>Jmdonev at 21:58, 25 July 2018

2018-07-25T21:58:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:58, 25 July 2018
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	[[Category:Done ~~2015~~-07-01]]		[[Category:Done 2018-08-03]]
	[[File:NRX Jason and Dan Banks.jpg\|~~250px~~\|thumbnail\|Figure 1. [[who we are\|Jason Donev]] and Daniel Banks in front of the NRX research reactor in Chalk River, ON.<ref>''Personal photo submitted by a member of the Energy Education team.''</ref>]]		[[File:NRX Jason and Dan Banks.jpg\|350px\|thumbnail\|Figure 1. [[who we are\|Jason Donev]] and Daniel Banks in front of the NRX research reactor in Chalk River, ON.<ref>''Personal photo submitted by a member of the Energy Education team.''</ref>]]

	<onlyinclude>'''Research reactors''' are [[nuclear reactor]]s that are not used for the [[electrical generation\|generation of electricity]]~~, and instead~~ provide uses for research and training, material testing, and production of [[isotope]]s for medical and industrial uses.</onlyinclude><ref name=wna>World Nuclear Association. (June 18 2015). ''Research Reactors'' [Online], Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Radioisotopes/Research-Reactors/</ref> For more than 60 years, research reactors have been providing a source of neutrons for a wide variety of scientific purposes,<ref name=iaea>IAEA. (June 18 2015). ''Research Reactors: Purpose and Future'' [Online], Available: https://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/Technical-Areas/RRS/documents/RR_Purpose_and_Future_BODY.pdf</ref> and there are around 240 research reactors operating in 56 countries worldwide.<ref name=wna/>		<onlyinclude>'''Research reactors''' are [[nuclear reactor]]s that are ''not'' used for the [[electrical generation\|generation of electricity]]. Instead they provide uses for research and training, material testing, and production of [[isotope]]s for medical and industrial uses.</onlyinclude><ref name=wna>World Nuclear Association. (June 18 2015). ''Research Reactors'' [Online], Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Radioisotopes/Research-Reactors/</ref> For more than 60 years, research reactors have been providing a source of neutrons for a wide variety of scientific purposes,<ref name=iaea>IAEA. (June 18 2015). ''Research Reactors: Purpose and Future'' [Online], Available: https://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/Technical-Areas/RRS/documents/RR_Purpose_and_Future_BODY.pdf</ref> and there are around 240 research reactors operating in 56 countries worldwide.<ref name=wna/>

	They are small in relation to the reactors that provide [[electricity]] to the [[grid]], with their power output ranging from 0 to 200 [[megawatts thermal\|MWt]] (thermal rating rather than electrical output rating, since they do not produce electricity!). In fact, the total power of all of the research reactors worldwide is just under a 3000 MWt, comparable to a single power reactor.<ref name=iaea/> They are also simpler and operate at lower [[temperature]]s. They require far less [[uranium]] fuel than power generating reactors, however the [[uranium enrichment]] must be higher, typically up to 20% concentration of <sup>235</sup>U.<ref name=iaea/>		They are small in relation to the reactors that provide [[electricity]] to the [[grid]], with their power output ranging from 0 to 200 [[megawatts thermal\|MWt]] (thermal rating rather than electrical output rating, since they do not produce electricity!). In fact, the total power of all of the research reactors worldwide is just under a 3000 MWt, comparable to a single power reactor.<ref name=iaea/> They are also simpler and operate at lower [[temperature]]s. They require far less [[uranium]] fuel than power generating reactors, however the [[uranium enrichment]] must be higher, typically up to 20% concentration of <sup>235</sup>U.<ref name=iaea/>
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	*'''Pool type (67)'''- The core of these reactors is a cluster of fuel elements sitting in a large pool of water. There are submerged [[control rod]]s, along with empty channels to perform tests. The water moderates and cools the reactor, and there are apertures in the walls to access the neutron beams. An example of such a reactor is the [http://www.src.sk.ca/resource%20files/slowpoke-2%20faq.pdf SLOWPOKE-2], designed and built in Canada, with 4 still in use around the country. '''Tank type (32)''' are similar but use a more active cooling system.		*'''Pool type (67)'''- The core of these reactors is a cluster of fuel elements sitting in a large pool of water. There are submerged [[control rod]]s, along with empty channels to perform tests. The water moderates and cools the reactor, and there are apertures in the walls to access the neutron beams. An example of such a reactor is the [http://www.src.sk.ca/resource%20files/slowpoke-2%20faq.pdf SLOWPOKE-2], designed and built in Canada, with 4 still in use around the country. '''Tank type (32)''' are similar but use a more active cooling system.

	*'''TRIGA (40)'''- This reactor is very versatile. It uses graphite or beryllium as neutron reflectors in order to minimize neutron loss, and zirconium hydride as [[moderator]].<ref name=wna/> It can operate in either steady state or be pulsed to very high power levels (25 000 MW) for a brief time. The rapid increase in power is cut short by a highly negative [[reactivity]] from the moderator.		*'''TRIGA (40)'''- This reactor is very versatile. It uses graphite or beryllium as neutron reflectors in order to minimize neutron loss, and zirconium hydride as a [[moderator]].<ref name=wna/> It can operate in either steady state or be pulsed to very high power levels (25 000 MW) for a brief time. The rapid increase in power is cut short by a highly negative [[reactivity]] from the moderator.

	*'''Other designs'''- Some other types are moderated and cooled by [[heavy water]] (12) or graphite. Less common are '''fast reactors''', which use a combination of uranium and [[plutonium]] as fuel. '''Homogeneous reactors (5)''' have a core with a uranium salt liquid solution.<ref name=wna/>		*'''Other designs'''- Some other types are moderated and cooled by [[heavy water]] (12) or graphite. Less common are '''fast reactors''', which use a combination of uranium and [[plutonium]] as fuel. '''Homogeneous reactors (5)''' have a core with a uranium salt [[liquid]] solution.<ref name=wna/>

	==Uses==		==Uses==
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	There are many uses for research reactors. Their production of neutrons are very useful because neutron beams are suited to studying materials at the atomic level.<ref name=wna/> Neutrons are also used for [[radioisotope]] production for medical industries, irradiation for material testing for [[fission]] and [[fusion]] reactors, [[neutron transmutation doping]] (NTD) of [[silicon]], and more.<ref name=iaea/>		There are many uses for research reactors. Their production of neutrons are very useful because neutron beams are suited to studying materials at the atomic level.<ref name=wna/> Neutrons are also used for [[radioisotope]] production for medical industries, irradiation for material testing for [[fission]] and [[fusion]] reactors, [[neutron transmutation doping]] (NTD) of [[silicon]], and more.<ref name=iaea/>

	Their use for training of all areas in the nuclear industry are extremely important, as operators, maintenance staff, radiation protection personnel, teachers and students can make use of their facilities.<ref name=iaea/>		Their use for training of all areas in the nuclear industry are extremely important, as operators, maintenance staff, [[radiation]] protection personnel, teachers and students can make use of their facilities.<ref name=iaea/>

	Visit the [http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/reactors/research-reactors/index.cfm CNSC] for more information on research reactors in Canada. For an overview of research reactors in the world please see the [https://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/Technical-Areas/RRS/home.html IAEA]'s page or the [http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Radioisotopes/Research-Reactors/ World Nuclear Association]'s page.		Visit the [http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/reactors/research-reactors/index.cfm CNSC] for more information on research reactors in Canada. For an overview of research reactors in the world please see the [https://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/Technical-Areas/RRS/home.html IAEA]'s page or the [http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Radioisotopes/Research-Reactors/ World Nuclear Association]'s page.

			==For Further Reading==
			*[[Nuclear reactor]]
			*[[Uranium enrichment]]
			*[[Fission]] &[[Fusion]]
			*[[Radiation]]
			*[[Control rod]]
			*Or explore a [[Special:Random\|random page]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
	[[Category:Uploaded]]		[[Category:Uploaded]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-08-26T21:31:36Z

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J.williams at 16:58, 12 August 2015

2015-08-12T16:58:52Z

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[[Category:Done 2015-07-01]]
[[File:NRX Jason and Dan Banks.jpg|250px|thumbnail|Figure 1. [[who we are|Jason Donev]] and Daniel Banks in front of the NRX research reactor in Chalk River, ON.<ref>''Personal photo submitted by a member of the Energy Education team.''</ref>]]

<onlyinclude>'''Research reactors''' are [[nuclear reactor]]s that are not used for the [[electrical generation|generation of electricity]], and instead provide uses for research and training, material testing, and production of [[isotope]]s for medical and industrial uses.</onlyinclude><ref name=wna>World Nuclear Association. (June 18 2015). ''Research Reactors'' [Online], Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Radioisotopes/Research-Reactors/</ref> For more than 60 years, research reactors have been providing a source of neutrons for a wide variety of scientific purposes,<ref name=iaea>IAEA. (June 18 2015). ''Research Reactors: Purpose and Future'' [Online], Available: https://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/Technical-Areas/RRS/documents/RR_Purpose_and_Future_BODY.pdf</ref> and there are around 240 research reactors operating in 56 countries worldwide.<ref name=wna/>

They are small in relation to the reactors that provide [[electricity]] to the [[grid]], with their power output ranging from 0 to 200 [[megawatts thermal|MWt]] (thermal rating rather than electrical output rating, since they do not produce electricity!). In fact, the total power of all of the research reactors worldwide is just under a 3000 MWt, comparable to a single power reactor.<ref name=iaea/> They are also simpler and operate at lower [[temperature]]s. They require far less [[uranium]] fuel than power generating reactors, however the [[uranium enrichment]] must be higher, typically up to 20% concentration of <sup>235</sup>U.<ref name=iaea/>

==Types==

There is a much wider array of designs for research reactors compared to power reactors.<ref name=iaea/> The number beside each shows how many there are operating worldwide.

*'''Pool type (67)'''- The core of these reactors is a cluster of fuel elements sitting in a large pool of water. There are submerged [[control rod]]s, along with empty channels to perform tests. The water moderates and cools the reactor, and there are apertures in the walls to access the neutron beams. An example of such a reactor is the [http://www.src.sk.ca/resource%20files/slowpoke-2%20faq.pdf SLOWPOKE-2], designed and built in Canada, with 4 still in use around the country. '''Tank type (32)''' are similar but use a more active cooling system.

*'''TRIGA (40)'''- This reactor is very versatile. It uses graphite or beryllium as neutron reflectors in order to minimize neutron loss, and zirconium hydride as [[moderator]].<ref name=wna/> It can operate in either steady state or be pulsed to very high power levels (25 000 MW) for a brief time. The rapid increase in power is cut short by a highly negative [[reactivity]] from the moderator.

*'''Other designs'''- Some other types are moderated and cooled by [[heavy water]] (12) or graphite. Less common are '''fast reactors''', which use a combination of uranium and [[plutonium]] as fuel. '''Homogeneous reactors (5)''' have a core with a uranium salt liquid solution.<ref name=wna/>

==Uses==

There are many uses for research reactors. Their production of neutrons are very useful because neutron beams are suited to studying materials at the atomic level.<ref name=wna/> Neutrons are also used for [[radioisotope]] production for medical industries, irradiation for material testing for [[fission]] and [[fusion]] reactors, [[neutron transmutation doping]] (NTD) of [[silicon]], and more.<ref name=iaea/>

Their use for training of all areas in the nuclear industry are extremely important, as operators, maintenance staff, radiation protection personnel, teachers and students can make use of their facilities.<ref name=iaea/>

Visit the [http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/reactors/research-reactors/index.cfm CNSC] for more information on research reactors in Canada. For an overview of research reactors in the world please see the [https://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/Technical-Areas/RRS/home.html IAEA]'s page or the [http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Non-Power-Nuclear-Applications/Radioisotopes/Research-Reactors/ World Nuclear Association]'s page.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]