Applications of Research Reactors:
Part 1
Danas Ridikas
RR Officer, Physics Section
Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences (NAPC) Department of Nuclear Applications and Sciences (NA)
1 February 2011
IAEA, Vienna, Austria
Contact: [email protected]
2
Outline
• Lecture 1: introduction to RRs
• Lecture 2: strategic planning for RRs (IAEA- TECDOC 1212)
• Lecture 3: applications of RRs, part 1 (IAEA- TECDOC 1234)
• Lecture 4: applications of RRs, part 2 (IAEA- TECDOC 1234)
Contact: [email protected]
3
Applications of RRs in 3 steps by
1. presentation of products and services
what can be done?
2. explanation of basic principles
how it can be done?
3. definition of requirements
what is needed?
Outline
Contact: [email protected]
5
Why so many and different types of RRs?
• Education & Training
• Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)
• Radioisotope Production
• Geochronology
• Neutron transmutation doping
• Gemstone coloration
• Fuel/material/instrument testing/qualification/development
• Provision of nuclear data
• Positron source
• Neutron capture therapy
Neutron sources
• Neutron Scattering
• Material science investigations
• Residual stress measurements
• Neutron Radiography
• …
Contact: [email protected]
6
Education & training (1)
• Public tours and visits
• Teaching physical and biological science students
• Teaching radiation protection and radiological engineering students
• Nuclear engineering students
• Nuclear power plant operator training
Can be potential source of income
Contact: [email protected]
8
Education & training (3)
Service Flux, n/s cm2 Facilities Equipment Staff Budget
Public tours and visits
Any Lecture room E.g.: demonstration
of NAA
1-2 E.g.: self
reading
dosimeters
Teaching physical
and biological
science students
~1010-1011 e.g. rabbit system E.g.: additional
capsules/samples
1-2 E.g.: self
reading
dosimeters
Teaching radiation protection and radiological engineering students
Any Should already exist Detection of activates
samples, air,
contamination,
detection of neutron
and gamma fields
1-2 E.g. additional
anti-
contamination
closing,
ultraviolet light
Nuclear engineering
students
Low power
High power
Reactor physics
Utilisation
experiments
RR operation
experiments
Activation foils
gamma detection
neutron detection
Operator
+ 1-2
Instruments,
foils, wires:
up to $40000
Nuclear power plant
operator training
Low power
High power
Reactor physics
RR operation
experiments
-//- -//- -//-
Contact: [email protected]
9
Education & training (example)
Typical flow from Academics to Nuclear
Academic background Nuclear training required
Population need estimates for 2 NPPs
50+
Experts
400+
Project + M&O staff
800+
Construction & Operating staffBachelors &
Technicians
Engineers &
Masters
PhDs
+ 3 to 9 months
+ 6 to 12 months
+ 12 to 24 months
Courtesy: AREVA, France, 2009.
Contact: [email protected]
10
Qualitative & quantitative analytical technique for the determination of trace elements/impurities
• Samples from mg to kg, detected concentration ~ppb
• Uses : Archaeology, Biomedicine, Environmental Science, Geology and geochemistry, Industrial products, Nutrition, Quality assurance of analysis & reference materials
• Rocks, minerals, and soils
• Atmospheric aerosols
• Archaeological artifacts
• Tree rings
• Dust in ice cores
• Hair, nails, skin, etc.
• Plant and animal matter
• Coal
• Can be a potential source of income
Soil mapping using NAA in Jamaica
Neutron Activation Analysis (1)
Contact: [email protected]
11
Neutron Activation Analysis (2)
Cyclic NAA
Sampling
Pre-irradiation sample treatment
Irradiation
Prompt-ray counting
in PGNAA
Radiochemical
separation in RNAA
Radioactivity measurement
Elemental concentration calculation
Critical evaluation of results
and preparation of the NAA report
Radiochemical
separation in P or DNAA
Contact: [email protected]
12
Service Flux, n/s cm2 Facilities Equipment Staff Budget
NAA (most)
DNNAA (actinides)
~109-1012
half-life,
quantity,
method
dependent
Flux monitoring
(energy, stability,
homogeneity,
reproducibility)
Sample transfer
system
Sample preparation,
measurement,
storage areas
Counting equipment
(hardware, software)
Sample loader -
charger
Radioactive sources
physicist Detection up
to: $100000
Other:
$20000
PGNAA
(H, B, C, N, P, S, Cd, Pb, Sm, Gd)
~108
half-life,
quantity,
preferably cold
neutrons
Cold neutron source,
Flux monitoring
(energy, stability,
homogeneity,
reproducibility)
Sample transfer
system
Sample preparation,
measurement,
storage areas
Counting equipment
(hardware, software)
Sample loader -
charger
Radioactive sources
Dedicated shielding
against neutrons,
Compton
suppression,
collimators, filters
physicist
technician
engineer
Detection up
to: $100000
Other:
$20000
PGNAA:
$200000 for
cold neutron
guide
Neutron Activation Analysis (3)
Contact: [email protected]
13
Radioisotope Production (1)
Typical forms of isotopic radioactive sources
Used in
• Medicine (diagnostic and therapy), but also
• Industry, agriculture & research
• Most used : in medicine Mo-99 (80% procedures) and in industry Co-60
• Potential source of income, big demand
• Also produced in particle accelerators
Contact: [email protected]
14
Radioisotope Production (2)
Target fabrication
Irradiation in reactor
Transportation of irradiated target to
radioactive laboratory
Radiochemical processing (separation)
or encapsulation in sealed source
Quality control
Transportation to end users
Target fabrication
Irradiation in reactor
Transportation of irradiated target to
radioactive laboratory
Radiochemical processing (separation)
or encapsulation in sealed source
Quality control
Transportation to end users
• (n,γ) : 59Co + n 60Co + γ
• (n,γ) β- : 130Te + n 131Te* + γ 131I + β-
• (n,p) : 32S +n 32P + p
• (n,α) : 6Li + n 3H + 4He
• Multistage reaction: 186W (n,γ) & 187W(n,γ) 188W
• Fission : Short lived fission products 99Mo 131I Long lived fission products 137Cs 147Pm
Contact: [email protected]
15
Service Flux, n/s
cm2
Facilities Equipment Staff Budget
24Na 32P 38Cl 56Mn 41Ar 64Cu 198Au …
<1013 Radiochemistry
laboratory,
thermal/fast
neutrons
Targets (enriched)
Gamma
spectroscopy
Radio-
chemist
Variable
+ 90Y 99Mo 125I 131I 133Xe
~1013-1014 If product
finalized: hot
cells, waste
storage facility,
etc.
Encapsulation
materials
Portable shielding
Additional
technician:
depends on
production
rate
Variable
+ 14C 35S 51Cr 60Co 89Sr 153Sm 169Yb 170Tm 182Ir
>1014 Automatic
loading, heat
removal
systems,
reactor
operation
modifications
High safety
standards, remote
chemistry,
nuclear welding,
quality
assurance, safety
analysis,
lisencing
Additional
staff:
logistics,
commercial
manager
Variable
Radioisotope Production (3)
Contact: [email protected]
16
Radioisotope Production (example: Mo-99)
Challenges related to Mo
• Demand-Supply situation
• Limited number of HFR
• HEU LEU
• Fission-Mo versus Capture-Mo
Contact: [email protected]
17
• Dating method of small (mg) quantities of minerals
• Actinide free
• Including actinides
Geochronology (1)
Scoria cone erupted on an ancient fluvial terrace of Rio Chico, Argentina
Geologic studies on the origin and thermal histories of
• mineral deposits, emplacement, cooling
• uplift history of plutonic rocks
• formation of metamorphic belts
• development of volcanic terraces
• formation and amalgamation of the Earth's crust
• age and development of the landscape
• timing of catastrophic events in earth history
Age range of from 2000 years to 4,6 billion years
Contact: [email protected]
18
• Dating method of small (mg) quantities of minerals
• Actinide free
Decay of natural potassium 40K 40Ar
Ratio 40Ar/40K from 40Ar/39Ar via 39K(n,p)39Ar, Eth=1.2MeV
Use of gas extraction spectrometry systems
• Including actinides (apatite, zircon)
Use of fission track method
The age is determined by
Geochronology (2) 40K 40Ar
Fastn
39K
Ethreshold
~ 1.2 MeV
t
A
Gaz
extraction
40Ar/39Ar (spectrometry system)
40Ar/40K
Age !!
β-
1.26.109y
(n,p)
40Ar
39Ar
Ther.n(n,p)
40K 40Ar
Fastn
39K
Ethreshold
~ 1.2 MeV
t
A
t
A
Gaz
extraction
40Ar/39Ar (spectrometry system)
40Ar/40K
Age !!
β-
1.26.109y
(n,p)
40Ar
39Ar
Ther.n(n,p)
U8
FP
FP
U8
FP
FP
nn
U5
FP
FP
U5
FP
FP
Rock
Trackthermal
Spontaneus fission
NfissionU5 = f(NU5)
NU5 NU8(t=0)
NfissionU8 = f( NU8(t) )
Contact: [email protected]
19
Service Flux, n/s cm2 Facilities Equipment Staff Budget
Actinide free Fast neutrons
~1012
Cd shielding for
parasitic reaction 40K(n,p)40Ar
Flat neutron flux
In core irradiation
Temperature control
Precise flux
monitors
Off site analysis
(precision
measurements)
Radioactive
shipment
Capsules,
shipping, Cd
shield
$3000
Include Actinides Thermal
neutrons
~1013
Flux monitoring,
(stability,
homogeneity,
reproducibility)
Parasitic fission on 232Th and 238U
Sample preparation,
thin mica detectors,
glass monitors for
flux gradient, CH2
tube
Radioactive
shipment or
scientist +
track
counting
laboratory
Variable
Geochronology (3)
Contact: [email protected]
20
• Silicon transmutation doping
• Gemstone coloration
Transmutation effects (1)
Colourless topaz (left) and blue topaz (right)
Contact: [email protected]
21
• Silicon transmutation doping • Source of income
• 30Si(n,γ)31Si 31P
• Gemstone coloration • Source of income
• Improve gemstone properties (e.g. colour)
Transmutation effects (2)
Contact: [email protected]
22
Service Flux, n/s cm2 Facilities Equipment Staff Budget
Silicon transmutation doping
Thermal
neutrons
~1013-1014
High thermalization,
<5% in-homogeneity,
sample heat removal
Contamination
monitor, storage
facility, flux
monitoring, handling
equipmet
Engineer +
technician
Variable:
from $5000
to $200000
Gemstone coloration Fast neutrons
~1013
Cd shield to avoid
induced activity,
temperature control
Storage facility,
radioactivity
monitoring,
Radio-
chemist, heat
transfer
studies,
technician
Variable and
scale
dependent
Transmutation effects (3)
Contact: [email protected]
23
Fuel/material/detector testing/qualification (1)
• Instrument development, testing, calibration, qualification
• Fuel/material testing (ageing, corrosion, irradiation)
• Fuel/material qualification (temperature, pressure, irradiation)
• Development of new fuels/materials (actinide fuels, high temperature reactors,
fast reactors, fusion reactors, …)
Operating conditions
250
500
750
1000
1250
0.1 1 10 100 1000
Dose (dpa)
Op
era
tin
g t
em
pe
ratu
re °
C
Fast
reactors
High
temperature
reactors
Nuclear
fuel UO2,
MOX
Thermal
reactors
Fusion
reactor
Contact: [email protected]
24
Fuel/material testing/qualification (2)
Equipped irradiation rigs
Independent/controlled heating
Thermocouples
Neutron monitoring
Irradiation loops (p, T, neutrons)
Hot laboratories
Mechanical tests
Visual examination
Radiochemistry
Contact: [email protected]
25
Service Flux, n/s cm2 Facilities Equipment Staff Budget
Material/fuel testing ~1014-1015 Dedicated loops,
controlled
environment,
neutron filters,
fission product
monitoring
Hot cell-laboratory,
waste storage
facility, dedicated
space, NDT and DT
facilities, etc.
Nuclear
engineers,
fuel lab.
Workers,
materials
research
engineers,
etc.
Variable:
$500000 -
1000000
Instrument testing Any
from Sv/h to
mSv/h
Access to well
characterised
neutron/gamma
fields,
neutron/gamma
filters/collimators
Radiation
monitoring, facility
certification for
calibration
Health
physicist,
technician
Monitors
$2000,
Accreditation
$20000
Fuel/material testing/qualification (3)
Contact: [email protected]
27
Nuclear reactors in the world (2007)
Expected to reach 600-700 units by 2030!
17
Argentine
Brésil
Canada
Chine
Belgique Finlande
Allemagne
Inde
Japon
Corée du Sud
Mexique
Russie
Afrique du Sud
Espagne Etats-Unis
Royaume-Uni
Suède
Suisse
Lituanie
Bulgarie Roumanie
Slovénie
Slovaquie
Hongrie Tchéquie
Arménie
Pakistan
Pays Bas
8 104
18
2
2
2
2
2
17
20
11
31
55
59 France
19
7
10 4
5
Total = 439 units
4
15 Ukraine
Contact: [email protected]
28
History of the Global Nuclear Power
World’s electricity: 17 % nuclear
Dominating “species”: LWRs (80%)
Today’s experience: >10000 years*reactors
Limitations of LWRs:
• Energy conversion factor
• Life-time & fuel burn-up
• Uranium resources
• Use of open fuel cycle (nuclear waste)
Figure 1
Replacement staggered over a 30-year period (2020 - 2050)
Rate of construction : 2,000 MW/year
Generation 3+
Generation 4Existing fleet
40-year plant life
Plant life extension
beyond 40 years
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
197519801985199019952000200520102015202020252030203520402045205020552060
Average plant life : 48 years 2005 2025 2045
Scenario with constant
reactor fleet!
Contact: [email protected]
29
U n e s û re té e n c o re
a m é lio ré e
D is p o s it if d e ré c u p é ra t io n
d u c o e u r fo n d u (c o r iu m )
e n c a s d ‘a c c id e n t
E n c e in te c o n ç u e p o u r
ré s is te r à u n e e x p lo s io n
h y d ro g è n e
S y s tè m e
d ‘é v a c u a t io n d e
c h a le u r
4 z o n e s
in d é p e n d a n te s p o u r
le s s y s tè m e s
re d o n d a n ts d e s û re téR é s e r v o ir d ‘e a u
U n e s û re té e n c o re
a m é lio ré e
D is p o s it if d e ré c u p é ra t io n
d u c o e u r fo n d u (c o r iu m )
e n c a s d ‘a c c id e n t
E n c e in te c o n ç u e p o u r
ré s is te r à u n e e x p lo s io n
h y d ro g è n e
S y s tè m e
d ‘é v a c u a t io n d e
c h a le u r
4 z o n e s
in d é p e n d a n te s p o u r
le s s y s tè m e s
re d o n d a n ts d e s û re téR é s e r v o ir d ‘e a u
D is p o s it if d e ré c u p é ra t io n
d u c o e u r fo n d u (c o r iu m )
e n c a s d ‘a c c id e n t
E n c e in te c o n ç u e p o u r
ré s is te r à u n e e x p lo s io n
h y d ro g è n e
S y s tè m e
d ‘é v a c u a t io n d e
c h a le u r
4 z o n e s
in d é p e n d a n te s p o u r
le s s y s tè m e s
re d o n d a n ts d e s û re téR é s e r v o ir d ‘e a u
The best what LWRs can do 3rd generation: EPR
Major features:
• Safety: redundancy and added margins
• Age: 60 years
• High burn-up: 60GWd/t – 5% U enrichment
• Possibility to use MOX
Real break-through:
• future 4th generation reactors
• > 2040
Contact: [email protected]
31
Very High Temperature Reactor
Sodium Fast reactor
Closed Fuel Cycle
Once Through
Supercritical Water Reactor
Once/Closed
Molten Salt Reactor
Closed Fuel Cycle
Closed Fuel Cycle
Lead Fast Reactor
Gas Fast Reactor
Closed Fuel
Cycle
6 innovative concepts under study
Contact: [email protected]
32
End of lecture three.
Task 3:
Describe the principles of NAA by answering the following questions:
what can be done?
how it can be done?
what is needed?
Lecture 3: applications of RRs (part 1)
Contact: [email protected]
33
Why so many and different types of RRs?
• Education & Training
• Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)
• Radioisotope Production
• Geochronology
• Neutron transmutation doping
• Gemstone coloration
• Fuel/material/instrument testing/qualification/development
• Provision of nuclear data
• Positron source
• Neutron capture therapy
Neutron sources
• Neutron Scattering
• Material science investigations
• Residual stress measurements
• Neutron Radiography
• …