IRRADIATION FACILITIES at SCKCEN Nuclear Belgian Research Center Boeretang, 200 2400 Mol Belgium Benoît Brichard Instrumentation Department Tel: +32 14 33 34 45 Secr: +32 14 33 34 40 Fax: +32 14 32 13 36 bbrichar@sckcen.be www.sckcen.be Ooms Hans Instrumentation Department Tel: +32 14 33 24 66 Secr: +32 14 33 24 07 Fax: +32 14 32 05 13 hooms@sckcen.be www.sckcen.be

Quick overview Neutron Facilities Gamma Facilities I. Cobalt-60 I. BR1 KIRSTEN 80 kGy/h BRIGITTE 25 kGy/h CMFA1 20 kGy/h CMFA2 20 kGy/h RITA 2 kGy/h CAL 3 Gy/h II. Spent Fuels GEUSE II 0.5 kGy/h Neutron Facilities I. BR1 Maximum Thermal flux 3x1011 n/cm2s II. BR2 1x1015 n/cm2s Maximum Fast Flux 7x1014 n/cm2s Installations Air cooled design Vacuum design

The irradiation facilities of SCKCEN cover a wide range of radiation processing and nuclear applications

Low Gamma Dose Rate Irradiation Facilities GEUSE II RITA

Large irradiation volume with moderate dose-rate RITA 0.5 => 1.5 kGy/h Dose Rate  Energy (MeV) Relative Intensity 60Co - spectrum Under water facility 380 mm 600 mm Temperature up to 150 °C Inert gas or air On-line instrumentation facilities

CRISTALES: In-pile section for photonics assessment Standard on line instrumentation 3 thermocouples type K Heating element Signal cables Rinsing of the chamber Extra on line instrumentation Fibers Coax, extra thermocouples Power cables Instrumentation on demand

Large irradiation volume with moderate dose-rate GEUSE II Large irradiation volume with moderate dose-rate Dose Rate 10 => 500 Gy/h 137Cs - spectrum Under water view Relative Intensity 900 mm 380 mm  Energy (MeV) Temperature up to 200 °C Inert gas or air On-line instrumentation facilities

Vacuum System Module for RITA and GEUSE II VSM Design for polymer irradiation Active low-vacuum Pressure (mbar) Time (h) 10-6 mbar 200 mm 600 mm

High Gamma Dose Rate Irradiation Facilities CMF A2 CMF A1 A2 A1 B BRIGITTE C3 KIRSTEN The four irradiation positions are located in the BR2 containment building

Large irradiation volume at high dose-rate BRIGITTE 0.5 => 25 kGy/h Dose Rate  Energy (MeV) Relative Intensity 60Co - spectrum Side view Container open 900 mm 220 mm Temperature up to 200 °C Inert gas or air On-line instrumentation facilities

Polymer irradiation Testing in Brigitte

Open Capsule with heater Medium irradiation volume at high dose-rate CMF-A1 CMF-A2 Open Capsule with heater 0.5 => 20 kGy/h Dose Rate  Energy (MeV) Relative Intensity 60Co - spectrum Capsule 900 mm 80 mm Temperature up to 200 °C Inert gas or air On-line instrumentation facilities

Small irradiation volume at high dose-rate KIRSTEN Dose Rate 80 kGy/h (57 MGy/Month)  Energy (MeV) Relative Intensity 60Co - spectrum 200 mm 35 mm No control of environmental parameters Uniform dose rate over 100 mm Only temperature monitoring

Climate Chamber for ageing tests CLARA Climate Chamber for ageing tests Available Volume 2 m3 Temperature control -36 to 180 °C Humidity control 10 to 98 % Convenient Facility for pos-irradiation temperature testing

Low dose-rate irradiation facility CAL Low dose-rate irradiation facility Bunker Inside View Output Source View Room temperature control at 21°C Atmosphere and humidity control Max Dose Rate: 1 Gy/h

Material Testing Reactor – BR2

Moving Irradiation Rig BR2: Material Testing Reactor – 56 MW Neutronic Performances in n/cm2s and Gamma Heating W/g[Al] Thermal Flux 2.8x1014 Gamma Heating Core Reflector 7x1014 Fast Flux (En > 0.1 MeV) 200 mm < 50 mm 84 mm 50 mm 10-15 W/g 7x1013 1.4x1014 7x1012 2.4x1014 1-4 W/g SIDONIE Moving Irradiation Rig 1x1014 5 x 1013 ~ 3 W/g 6x1013

BR1: Gas Cooled reactor – 700 kW to 1MW Standard value at 700 kW BR1, operated on day by day basis Graphite moderator Typical temperature: 40 °C -70 °C Neutron and gamma standard fields Thermal flux : 3.5x1011n/cm2s Fast Flux : 2 x 1010 n/cm2s FUNIN – Fast neutron boost module Fast Neutron in Y6 channel ~ 1011 n/cm2 s U-235 fission spectrum Volume 80 mm2 External Cavity – 1 m diameter load with uranium sphere Fast Flux 2-4 x 108 n/cm2 possibility for Gamma Converter