Current and prospective safety issues at the HFBR
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY (United States)
The Brookhaven high-flux beam reactor (HFBR) was designed primarily to produce external neutron beams for experimental research. It is cooled, moderated, and reflected by heavy water and uses materials test reactor and engineering test reactor type of fuel elements containing enriched uranium. The reactor power when operation began in 1965 was 40 MW, was raised to 60 MW in 1982 after a number of plant modifications, and operated at that level until 1989. Since that time, safety questions have been raised that resulted in extended shutdowns and a reduction in operating power to 30 MW. This paper discusses the principal safety issues and plans for their resolution and return to 60-MW operation. In addition, radiation embrittlement of the reactor vessel and thermal shield and its effect on the life of the facility are briefly discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 436944
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9606116-; ISSN 0003-018X; TRN: 96:005275-0177
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 74; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), Reno, NV (United States), 16-20 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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