Status of Research Reactor Utilization in Brazil - IAEA · PDF fileStatus of Research Reactor Utilization in Brazil José Augusto Perrotta Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares

Status of Research Reactor Utilization in Brazil

José Augusto PerrottaInstituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares

IPEN/CNEN-SP; Brazil

IAEA Technical Meeting on Research Reactor Application for Materials Under High Neutron Fluence

IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria17-21 November 2008

IAEA Technical Meeting on Research Reactor Application for Materials Under High Neutron FluenceIAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria, 17-21 November 2008 José Augusto Perrotta

Summary� Introduction

�Research Reactor Utilization� ARGONAUTA Research Reactor� IPR-R1 Research Reactor� IPEN/MB-01 Research Reactor� IEA-R1 Research Reactor

�Future Perspectives for RR Utilization


Introduction

ArgonautIEN/CNEN-RJRio de Janeiro500 WResearch –

TrainingARGONAUTA

TRIGA MARK-ICDTN/CNEN-MGBelo Horizonte100 kWResearch –

TrainingIPR-R1

Pin Type – Open Core

IPEN/CNEN-SPSão Paulo100 W

Critical Facility –PWR Core Analysis

IPEN/MB-01

MTR Pool Type Reactor

IPEN/CNEN-SPSão Paulo5 MW

Research –Radioisotope Production

IEA-R1

TypeLocationPowerUtilizationName

Research Reactors in Brazil


Introduction

IPR-R1 Research Reactor

ARGONAUTA Research Reactor

IPEN/MB-01 Research Reactor

IEA-R1 Research Reactor

Rio de JaneiroSão Paulo

Belo Horizonte


Research Reactor UtilizationARGONAUTA Research Reactor

• Argonaut type reactor (Argonne National Laboratory Nuclear Assembly for University Training)• Installed in 1965 at the Nuclear Engineering Institute (IEN) of the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission located at the Rio de Janeiro University Campus. • 500 W of maximum power • U3O8-Al MTR dispersion fuel type with 20% uranium enrichment. • Main utilization

– Teaching and training in reactor physics – Neutron radiography– Neutron activation analysis


Research Reactor UtilizationIPR-R1 Research Reactor

• TRIGA MarkI type reactor, produced by General Atomic Company, USA.

• Installed in 1960 at the previous Radioactive Research Institute (IPR), today the Nuclear Technology Developing Center (CDTN) of the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, located at Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Federal University Campus.

• 100 kW of maximum power for continuous operation.

• U-Zr-H Triga pin type fuel with 20% uranium enrichment.

• Main utilization: – Specific radioisotope production for industry, medical, agriculture and engineering applications.

– Neutron activation analysis.– Teaching and training in reactor physics.

– The reactor is one of the training tools for licensing the Brazilian nuclear power reactor operators.


Research Reactor UtilizationIPEN/MB-01 Research Reactor

• Designed and constructed with Brazilian technology. • Installed at the Energetic and Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN) of the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission site, in Sao Paulo, had its first criticality in 1988. • 100 W of maximum power.• UO2 fuel pins with 4.3% uranium enrichment.• Main utilization:

– Validation of reactor physics methodology and nuclear data associated for PWR core analysis.

– Teaching and training in reactor physics.


Research Reactor UtilizationIPEN/MB-01 Research Reactor

• The international community recognizes some experiments performed at this reactor as benchmarking data.

• The experimental data obtained at the reactor are:– integral and differential reactivity worth of control rods;

– power calibration by foils activation and noise analysis;

– temperature and void reactivity coefficients;

– spatial and energetic flux distribution by foils activation and fission chambers detectors;

– reaction rates and spectral index measurement inside fuel rods; – buckling measurement with different “baffle” material and thickness;– criticality tests with different burnable poison– specific tests related to reactor physics.


Research Reactor UtilizationIEA-R1 Research Reactor

• Pool type research reactor, Babcock & Wilcox project.• Installed at the previous Atomic Energy Institute (IEA), presently the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN) of the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission site, in Sao Paulo, inside the Sao Paulo University Campus,• The reactor achieved its first criticality on September 16, 1957.• 5 MW of maximum power (originally 2 MW)• The reactor originally used 93% enriched U-Al fuel elements, but now it uses 20% enriched uranium U3Si2-Al dispersion fuel produced at IPEN.



Main Utilization

• Radioisotope Production– 131I (activation)– 99Mo (activation)– 153Sm– 192Ir– 198Au– 82Br– 41Ar

• Neutron Activation Analysis• Silicon Doping



• Neutron Beam Utilization– Neutron diffractometry– BNCT research– Neutron radiography– Photonuclear reactions

• Materials Irradiation– MTR Fuel mini plates irradiation– PWR Fuel mini rods irradiation

using pressurized rig– Structural material testing using

special rig with temperature control

• NDT analysis inside the pool– Dimensional inspection– Visual inspection– Gamma scanning– Sipping test

• Teaching and training.

Neutron Diffractometer # 1

Neutron Diffractometer # 2

Photonuclear Reaction

Neutron Radiography

BNCT


Future Perspectives for RR UtilizationBrazilian Nuclear Program Review

• Electricity produced by nuclear power plants– Brazil will continue to use nuclear

energy in its electrical power generating matrix.

• Nuclear Fuel– Brazil has a significant uranium

ore reserve and domains the fuel cycle technology, including U enrichment.

– Increase of industrial activities for supplying the nuclear power plants needs.

• Nuclear Techniques Utilization– Increase of the nuclear

techniques applications and radioisotope utilization in the benefit of the society.

– Increase of autonomous technology development

• PNB Working Group• PNB Advisory Group


Future Perspectives for RR UtilizationElectricity Produced by Nuclear Power Plants

• Two Nuclear Power Plants in Operation– Angra I – 650 MWe– Angra II – 1350 MWe

• One Nuclear Power Plant under construction ( 2014 )– Angra III – 1350 MWe

• Four Nuclear Power Plants proposed until 2030– > 1000 MWe (generation 3+)

• Modest participation in the electric power matrix (< 4%) 216.592.7Total

8.45.9Others

4.7-Wind

7.32Nuclear

32.614.9Thermal

16469.9Hydraulic

Planned Capacity 2030 (GW)

Installed Capacity 2005 (GW)

Source


Future Perspectives for RR UtilizationNuclear Fuel Fabrication Industry (INB Plants)

400 tons/year of yellow cake

CaetitéBahiaMining

250 tons of U/year(Angra I e Angra II)

ResendeRio de JaneiroFuel Assembling

120 tons/year(Angra I and Angra II)

ResendeRio de Janeiro

UO2 Pellets Fabrication

TCAU route140 tons/year of UO2

ResendeRio de JaneiroReconversion

First module under commissioning

(Brazilian technology)Resende

Rio de JaneiroEnrichment

Planned ResendeRio de JaneiroConversion

CapacityLocationActivity


Future Perspectives for RR UtilizationRadioisotope for Radiopharmaceutical

imported603,840Ir-192

imported1848I-125

imported815Lu-177

100% IEA-R15021Sm-153

imported71Cr-51

50% imported50% IEA-R12602,000I-131

imported30020,000Mo-99

CommentsUsers* per year

Total Activity per year(Ci)

RadioisotopeEvolução da Distribuição de Gerador de Tecnécio

-

5.000.000

10.000.000

15.000.000

20.000.000

25.000.000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008Ano

mCi

Atividade (mCi)

Evolução da Distribuição de I-131 (em solução e em cápsula)

-

500.000

1.000.000

1.500.000

2.000.000

2.500.000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008Ano

mCi

A t iv idade (mC i)

99mTc

131I


Future Perspectives for RR UtilizationNew Multipurpose Research Reactor

• Due to the Brazilian nuclear program review proposals of increasing activities in the nuclear sector for the next decades;• Due to the fact that the industrial application of power reactor and nuclear fuel technology requires, for an autonomous development, the need of fuel and material testing under irradiation;• Due to the fact that the radioisotope production for radiopharmaceuticals application depends strongly on international suppliers;• Due to the fact that neutron beam applications, for fundamental and technological research, are limited with the actual infrastructure.

• The Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) is analyzing the costs and benefits of constructing a new research reactor in Brazil.

• This new research reactor should have neutron fluxes compatible to the multipurpose use and application needs.


Multipurpose Research Reactor Scope

MULTIPURPOSERESEARCHREACTOR

OPERATIONRADIOISOTOPE PRODUCTION

DESIGN / CONSTRUCTION /COMMISSIONING

FUEL AND MATERIALTESTING

NEUTRONAPPLICATIONS

RADIOISOTOPESFOR MEDICINE

RADIOISOTOPES FOR INDUSTRY

RADIOISOTOPES FOR RESEARCH

FUEL IRRADIATION TEST

MATERIAL IRRADIATION TEST

NAA NTD

TEACHING ANDTRAINING NUCLEAR PHYSICS

MATERIALSSCIENCE

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

TECHNOLOGICAPPLICATIONS

HUMAN RESOURCES FOR DESIGNING

SITE DEFINITION

PLANT DESIGN

FABRICATION (CONTRACTS)

COMMISSIONINGCONSTRUCTION(CONTRACTS)

ENVIRONMENTAL LICENSING

NUCLEAR LICENSING

FINANCIAL SUPPORT NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

INTERNATIONALPARTNERSHIPS

HUMAN RESOURCES FOR UTILIZATION, OPERATION,

AND MAINTENANCE

UF620% ENRICHED

FUEL ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURE

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FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UTILIZATION, OPERATION,

AND MAINTENANCE

C O L D A N D H O T

S U P P O R T I N G

L A B O R A T O R I E S

NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY


Thank You !

Documents

Status of Research Reactor Utilization in Brazil - IAEA · PDF fileStatus of Research Reactor Utilization in Brazil José Augusto Perrotta Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares