Edited by CER (Club d’Exploitants des Réacteurs) The Reactor Operators’ Club (Club d’Exploitants des Réacteurs de Recherche - CER) is the meeting and discussion forum for operators of French research reactors. All the material presented in this publication is only provided for information and is not contractual. In 2013, The IAEA listed approximately 240 research reactors in activity in more or less 50 countries. 2 0 13 Summary Editorial ......................................................................................... 5 Highlights 2013 ....................................................................... 7 2013 Review .............................................................................. 8 Neutron Beam Reactors ................................................... 10 � Orphée ....................................................12 � HFR-ILL ...................................................16 Technological Irradiation Reactors .......................... 20 � Osiris .......................................................22 � Phénix .....................................................27 Training Reactors .................................................................. 30 � Isis ..........................................................32 � Azur .........................................................33 Reactors for Safety Research Purposes .............. 34 � Cabri .......................................................36 � Phébus ....................................................40 Reactors for Neutronic Studies .................................. 42 � Caliban ....................................................44 � Prospéro ..................................................46 � Éole .........................................................48 � Minerve ....................................................50 � Masurca...................................................54 The New Research Reactors ........................................ 56 � RES .........................................................58 � JHR .........................................................61 Heads of facilities ................................................................. 64 2013 REVIEW 03 FRENCH RESEARCH REACTORS VALDUC � Caliban SACLAY � Prospéro � Isis � Orphée � Osiris GRENOBLE � HFR-ILL MARCOULE � Phénix CADARACHE � Azur � Phébus � Éole � JHR � Minerve � RES � Masurca � Cabri Editorial 2013: Refurbishment and improvements to prepare the future of our research reactors While 2012 was marked by the concern for research reactors. This is the renewed interest of experts in using critical case in Europe with the problems at Petten mock-ups to support not only the validation and in Canada with the future of their reactor of computer codes but also training actions, called into question. Several countries 2013 was clearly highlighted by the start of have elaborated projects to adapt their several construction sites for reactor projects experimental capacity in order to produce devoted to training, the use of neutron beams Mo-99, such as in Germany with the FRM2. Jérôme ESTRADE and the production of artificial radioelements, The experimental reactor policy in France Chairman of the CER e.g. the 5 MW JRTR in Jordan, and the KJRR has been clarified in light of the decisions in Korea which only used to produce Mo-99 recently made on the future of our facilities. and silicon dopping. The refurbishment of research reactor such From a safety perspective, most of the stress as Cabri and Masurca is continuing at a tests have been performed for the reactors steady pace so they can soon be ready deemed to be a top priority by the French provide a unique range of experimental regulatory body, ASN, following the nuclear possibilities. Marie-Noëlle PAOLI accident on 11 March 2011 at the Fukushima JHR is still considered a vital asset. This is CER secretary plant in Japan. Various modification and reflected through our partners’ commitment improvement programmes destined to to financing the experimental devices, render our facilities even safer are either together with the fact that the English (via underway or pending. IAEA has also clearly the National Nuclear Laboratory) have also expressed its intention to standardise the joined the JHR consortium. safety requirements applicable to research reactors, particularly within the scope of Our facilities must continue to attract new stress-test studies: guidelines are currently partners, whether nuclear industry players being drafted. or research organisations. The quality of Throughout the world, numerous facilities our research programmes, together with devoted to neutron beams have seen their our capacity to innovate are just as many programmes extended and their capacities advantages that must keep us at the forefront enhanced, e.g. guide halls expanded and of the international scene. neutron beams added. This is the case in the US, Korea and Europe. The production of artificial radioelements – chiefly Mo-99 – remains an increasing To be continued…� 2013 REVIEW 05 FRENCH RESEARCH REACTORS French reactors and their main applications... Medical applicationsMaterial irradiation Fuel irradiation Training Industrial applicationsNeutronographyStructure ofNeutronic matter Safety studiesNational defence Pages AZUR 33 CABRI 36 CALIBAN 44 EOLE 48 ISIS 32 MASURCA 54 MINERVE 50 ORPHEE 12 OSIRIS 22 PHEBUS 40 PHENIX 27 PROSPERO 46 RES 58 HFR-ILL 16 JHR 61 2 0 13 Highlights SommaireAZUR (p.33) Laboratory project was launched in 2013: a live core. Discussions were held with the French 310 criticalities, modification of core demonstration was performed in September Regulatory Body (ASN) to recommend a confi gurations and 14 partial or total loading/ 2013 during the IAEA general conference. solution as to how the different preparatory unloading operations solely devoted to core operations prior to fi nal shutdown should be naval propulsion qualification, training and MASURCA (p.54) organised. Beginning of the removing materials operation as qualifying AREVA TA personnel to operate the decided within the scope of the post-Fukushima PHENIX (p.27) facility and training personnel from the French stress test. A number of renovation operations Conduct the dynamic stacking test in the navy in reactor operations. were also continued. context of investigating the origin of negative CABRI (p.36) reactivity emergency shutdowns, restart of The facility refurbishment operations were MINERVE (p.50) the operation in the Irradiated Elements Cell, The second and third phases of the MAESTRO continued (modernisation of the radiation refurbishment the plant’s chillers, complete programme (improving nuclear data on the protection equipment, design change of the dismantling of the electricity generating system different materials used in LWRs). primary pump of the experimental pressurised (IPE) equipment and simplifi cation of the plant’s water loop, reinforcement of seismic supports…) ORPHEE (p.12) external power supply. Start assessment of the and end of the reloading operation. The The reactor operated for 184 days, refurbishment fi le requesting authorisation for dismantling and commissionning test program was continued actions in the facility, some of which resulted of the safety review case fi le. (testing of the control and safety rod drop, from requests and commitments made following PROSPEÉRO (p.46) calibration tests on the two fl owmeters, test of the 2010 safety review. The Léon Brillouin The reactor operated for 80 days for experiments the transient rod depressurisation systems..) laboratory was able to conduct a signifi cant and used to qualify electronic components and number of experiments. ORPHEE reactor CALIBAN (p.44) detectors relative to their resistance to radiation produced 800 kilograms of silicon dopping More than 50 days of experiments were and to qualify the EDAC sensor. and 145 tubes of radioisotopes (including 75 conducted, either in a prompt supercritical tubes of iridium), as well as providing industrial- RES (p.58) (power excursion) or a sub-critical confi guration scale neutron radiography services to meet the A new industrial organisation was defi ned. to qualify a number of electronic components demands of clients Performance of fossil-fuel-powered steam and detectors, especially for the MegaJoule tests and start of ventilation test. Laser project. The dosimeter experiments were OSIRIS (p.22) continued, including the benchmark of results. The reactor operated for 145 days, interrupted HFR-ILL (p.16) Programme of qualifi cation of new gamma and for a long shutdown for major testing and The reactor provided 136 days of scientifi c neutron detectors. maintenance projects (refurbishment of the activities in 2013. The upgrading of the circuits internal lining of the core cooling system and equipment was continued, and actions EOLE (p.48) deactivation tanks, non-destructive testing of associated with the post-Fukushima stress End of the AMMON programme (the calculation the core primary system’s natural convection test were launched. route for the JHR was checked): a last power check valves, fi rst main improvement work measurements in a confi guration with the rod determined in the context of the stress test JHR (p.61) tracker’s central mandrel ejected, representing The concrete pouring operations for the nuclear following the Fukushima accident). Concerning an incidental condition in the JHR was tested. auxiliaries building, the reactor containment and the experimental programme: MUSICA A new configuration was