Advanced Test Reactor Capabilities and Future Operating Plans

Conference · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005

OSTI ID:911161

Marshall, Frances M

The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is one of the world’s premier test reactors for providing the capability for studying the effects of intense neutron and gamma radiation on reactor materials and fuels. The physical configuration of the ATR, a 4-leaf clover shape, allows the reactor to be operated at different power levels in the corner “lobes” to allow for different testing conditions for multiple simultaneous experiments. The combination of high flux (maximum thermal neutron fluxes of 1E15 neutrons per square centimeter per second and maximum fast [E>1.0 MeV] neutron fluxes of 5E14 neutrons per square centimeter per second) and large test volumes (up to 48" long and 5.0" diameter) provide unique testing opportunities. The current experiments in the ATR are for a variety of test sponsors - US government, foreign governments, private researchers, and commercial companies needing neutron irradiation services. There are three basic types of test configurations in the ATR. The simplest configuration is the sealed static capsule, wherein the target material is placed in a capsule, or plate form, and the capsule is in direct contact with the primary coolant. The next level of complexity of an experiment is an instrumented lead experiment, which allows for active monitoring and control of experiment conditions during the irradiation. The highest level of complexity of experiment is the pressurized water loop experiment, in which the test sample can be subjected to the exact environment of a pressurized water reactor. For future research, some ATR modifications and enhancements are currently planned. This paper provides more details on some of the ATR capabilities, key design features, experiments, and future plans.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 911161
• Report Number(s): INL/CON-05-00549
• Conference Information: Test Research and training Reactors (TRTR) Annual Meeting,Gaithersburg, MD,09/12/2005,09/16/2005
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
Advanced Test Reactor (ATR)
CONFIGURATION
DESIGN
GAMMA RADIATION
instrumented lead
IRRADIATION
lobes
MODIFICATIONS
MONITORING
multiple experiments
NEUTRONS
pressurized water loop
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR MATERIALS
sealed static capsule
SHAPE
TARGETS
TEST REACTORS
TESTING
THERMAL NEUTRONS
TRAINING REACTORS