The Role of the Nuclear Science User Facilities in Nuclear Energy Research and Development
- Idaho National Laboratory, Nuclear Science User Facilities, 2525 Freemont Ave., Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402 (United States)
The Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF), established in 2007 as the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) National Scientific User Facility is chartered to provide cost-free access to unique and important research and development capabilities and infrastructure to nuclear energy-focused researchers. Originally, the NSUF was formed to utilize excess capacity in the ATR and the Hot Fuels Examination Facility (HFEF) hot cells. In the eight years since its inception, the NSUF has expanded to include most of the capabilities at the Idaho National Laboratory as well as twelve external 'partner' facilities. The inclusion of the partner facilities makes the NSUF the first distributed user facility, a 'laboratory without walls.' Users can apply for access to any of the NSUF INL or partner facilities using the same process, either through the annual Office of Nuclear Energy Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research funding announcement or the NSUF Rapid Turnaround Experiment (RTE) opportunities, offered three times each year. In support of the capability access mission, the NSUF also offers access to additional resources. In order to help researchers connect with the appropriate capabilities, the NSUF has developed a comprehensive searchable database of nuclear energy R and D infrastructure in the US and worldwide. Additionally, the NSUF hosts a Fuels and Materials Sample Library (FMSL) that includes an ever-expanding set of previously irradiated materials, supporting un-irradiated archive material and fabrication and irradiation data for the materials. The capabilities of the NSUF partner facilities, the NEID, the fuels and materials sample library and the access application information is all available at the NSUF web site: ATRNSUF.INL.gov. (author)
- OSTI ID:
- 22991898
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 114, Issue 1; Conference: Annual Meeting of the American Nuclear Society, New Orleans, LA (United States), 12-16 Jun 2016; Other Information: Country of input: France; Available from American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 United States; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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