State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Nuclear Research Facilities in Russia for innovative nuclear development N. Arkhangelskiy, ROSATOM IAEA Consultancy Meeting 10-12 June 2013 1
Introduction Russia has a lot of Nuclear Research Facilities that have different design, power and neutron flux levels, experimental utilization etc. Many of these facilities can be used for innovative nuclear projects Current status and capabilities of Russian Nuclear Facilities Re analysed in this presentation 2
Russian Nuclear Research Facilities Type (types, status, numbers) Number of Facilities Total Operating Shutdown Under construction Planned RR 34 29 2 2 1 CA 29 28 1 SCA 9 6 3 Total 72 63 6 2 1 RR Research Reactors CA Critical Assemblies SCA Subcritical Assemblies 3
Nuclear facilities for innovative nuclear development How Russian Nuclear Facilities can support innovative nuclear development? These facilities are RR for irradiation experiments CA for neutron-physical measurements SCA are not suitable for innovative nuclear development. It is possible to use them only for education and small applied tasks 4
General Requirements To support innovative nuclear development it is necessary to have facilities with suitable parameters such as: Level of neutron fluxes Neutron spectrum Irradiation regimes Experimental loops and ampoules 5
Level of Neutron Fluxes Neutron fluxes in experimental facilities of research reactors should correspond to the flux level in power reactors or to be higher For irradiation tests for innovative reactor concepts the level of thermal neutron flux is not so important The fast neutron flux is the key parameter for irradiation tests For irradiations on the program of thermal reactors the fast neutron flux shall be enough approximately 10 14 n/(cm 2 s) and for fast reactor concepts not less than 10 15 n/(cm 2 s) 6
Neutron Spectrum Neutron spectrum is a very important feature for neutron-physical experiments at critical assemblies Usually the critical assemblies are designed for investigations of parameters of the concrete reactor and concrete coolant 7
Irradiation Regimes To achieve the required dpa the irradiation regimes should be very intensive The utilization factor depends on many factors: funding, resources, condition of reactor equipment, avaialbility of qualified staff Irradiation of materials in transient and accident conditions requires special reactors or special equipment 8
Experimental Loops and Ampoules The reactor should have loops and ampoule channels, the sizes of the core should be sufficient to install experimental devices It means that dimensions of the core should be big enough 9
Russian Research Reactors for Innovative Systems Reactor Name Operator Neutron Flux, 10 14 n/(cm 2 s) Height of Active Core, cm Util. Factor (2012) Loops Ampoules Thermal Fast SM-3 RIAR 50 20 (E>0.1 MeV) 35 0.67 yes yes RBT-6 RIAR 0.2 0.6 (E>0.1 MeV) 35 0.61 yes RBT-10/2 RIAR 0.3 1 (E>0.1 MeV) 35 0.73 yes MIR.M1 RIAR 5 2 (E>0.1 MeV) 100 0.69 yes yes BOR-60 RIAR 37 45 0.61 yes IR-8 NRC KI 2.3 0.57 (E>3 MeV) 60 0.44 yes WWR-M NRC KI 4.5 2 (E>0.1 MeV) 50 0.35 yes PIK NRC KI 46 20 (E>0.1 MeV) 50 - IVV-2M IRM 5 2 (E>0.1 MeV) 50 0.84 yes yes WWR-TS NIPhChI 1 0.5 (E>0.8 MeV) 60 0.40 yes BIGR VNIIEF 10 16 n/cm 2 (fluence in pulse) 67 yes 10
Categorization of Facilities First Category These reactors are more suitable because they have high neutron flux, big core size and high utilization factor MIR.M1 (material testing reactor with big amount of loop channels) BOR-60 (fast sodium cooled reactor) BIGR (for RIA experiments only) 11
Second Category These reactors have some suitable features but have not several important parameters; they have good utilization factors SM-3 (high neutron flux level but small core sizes) IVV-2M (design suitable for material testing experiments, has good utilization but not so high flux level) 12
Third Category In principle these reactors can be helpful to support innovative reactor projects but with some limitations RBT-10/2 (pool type, good utilization but small sizes of active core; no loops) RBT-6 (pool type, good utilization but small sizes of active core; no loops) IR-8 (pool type, no loops) WWR-M (pool type, no loops) WWR-TS (pool type, no loops) PIK (high neutron flux; no loops and ampoules; under commissioning now) 13
Critical Assemblies BFS-1 and BFS-2 in IPPE, Obninsk have uique options for research of parameters of reactors of different design with different coolants These facilities make it possible to model fast neutron reactors cooled by sodium or lead, reactors of the VVER type and/or uranium-thorium and/or plutonium fuel 14
Conclusion Russia has numerous nuclear research facilities But not all of them are suitable for research of innovative reactor projects because of insufficient neutron flux level, low utilization factor or absence of loops and ampoule channels It is possible to include in the list of proposed research facilities reactors:mir.m1, BOR-60, BIGR, SM-3 and IVV-2M and critical assemblies: BFS-1 and BFS-2. 15