Nuclear Research Reactors in Brazil: IEA-R1 and RMB

General ILL Seminar,  organised by College 1
Tuesday, 16 July 2019 at 11:00
Seminar room (163), 1st floor, ILL 4

Dr. Paulo Sergio Cardoso da Silva
Nuclear and Energy Research Reactor – IPEN - São Paulo - Brazil

The nuclear research reactor IEA-R1 reach its first criticality in 1957, due to the program “Atoms for Peace” and since then has been used in radioisotope production for medicine, industry and for research in several fields as radiation metrology, nuclear physics, chemistry and solid-state physics.

The IEA-R1 is an open pool type, operates with 4.5 MWth delivering a maximum neutron flux of 10¹⁴ n.cm^-2s^-1 and epithermal and fast neutrons of the order of 10¹³ n.cm^-2.s^-1. The core is an MTR type - square geometry with 24 U₃Si₂-Al fuel elements and the central position with a beryllium trap for high flux irradiation. The fuel elements are produced in the IPEN fuel factory. The reactor has 144 irradiation positions distributed in 15 irradiation elements for long irradiations and one position using a pneumatic system for short irradiations (up to 5 minutes). In addition, it has ten horizontal Beam Holes that provide neutron beams, used in nuclear physics experiments, solid state physics, research on neutron capture boron (BNCT) cancer therapy and neutrongraphy.

Currently, the operation and maintenance of the IEA-R1 is managed together with its use in a single administrative unit, called Research Reactor Center. The associated labs performing research in development for new detectors of ionizing radiation and particles, neutron diffraction, nuclear structure, neutron activation analysis applied for environmental studies and heath applications, hyperfine Interactions, and physics teaching. Besides that, the IEA-R1 reactor is currently used for production of radioisotopes for use in nuclear medicine, production of radioisotope and radioactive sources for industrial application and training of personnel licensed to operate reactors.

A new research Reactor is under planning in Brazil, in order to be self-sufficient in radioisotopes for medicine, once 100% of 99Mo is imported. This project, called Multipurpose Research Reactor will have a 30MW reactor, a Radiopharmacy unit, the National Neutron Laboratory, and the National Laboratory of Activation Analysis. This year, the detailed project should be concluded by INVAP and we hope to start the building in the early of 2020.

Sandra Cabeza (College 1 Secretary)

External visitors may ask for a site access to Brigitte Dubouloz (dubouloz@ill.fr)