WWR-K Reactor

WWR-K Reactor

WWR-K Reactor

A thermal neutron pool-type reactor. Coolant, moderator and reflector - desalted water.

It was commissioned in 1967, operated at thermal power of 10MW till 1988 without deviations from standard modes.

In period 1988 to 1998 the work was performed to enhance safety under high seismicity conditions (calculations and validations, structure strengthening, doubling of systems responsible for safety, new documentation execution). Since the core configuration was changed the thermal power was reduced to 6MW without neutron flux loss.

Technical Parameters

Thermal power, MW

6

Fuel

UAl4

Loading 235U, kg

4,46

Enrichment 235U, %

36

Core height, mm

600

Experimental channel diameter, mm

68

Thermal neutron flux density:

 

        in the central channel

1,4×1014 n/cm2·s

        in two channels of the core

1,1×1014 n/cm2·s

        in peripheral channels

1012 - 1013 n/cm2·s

Reactor life-time

14 days

The reactor is equipped with water-tube dispatch system, air-tube dispatch system, a universal loop facility, neutron radiography facility, the facility for analysis of uranium containing samples by delayed neutron method, in-pile facilities to test structure materials for long-term strength and creep, a number of hot cells for work involving high-level materials.

At this reactor, besides the fundamental nuclear-physical and material and structure investigations and in-pile tests, work on medical radioisotopes and gamma-source production, neutron alloying of silicon, neutron-activation analysis is conducted. The opportunity of core upgrading to make application of low-enriched uranium possible is studied. National and international workshops on physical protection of nuclear facilities, nuclear material accounting and control are conducted.