Research Reactor LVR - 15


The research reactor LWR-15 at the Nuclear Research Institute Řež, plc is a light water swimming pool type reactor with force cooling. The maximum reactor power is 10 MW thermal power. Fuel and control elements are of IRT-2M type enriched to 80% or 36% in 235U. Combined water-beryllium reflector is used. The reactor core grid has 80 cells, in the basic operation configuration 28-34 cells contain fuel elements. 2 - 4 of the fuel cells are dedicated to channels for experimental probes and 3 - 6 cells in the reflector and core periphery to vertical irradiation channels. Further 3 cells are dedicated to shut-down rod, 8 cells to compensation rods and 1 cell to fine control rod. The reactor core is situated in the reactor vessel (outer diameter 230 cm, total height of the vessel 623 cm), which is made of steel, the internal parts of the reactor are made of aluminum alloy. The reactor has a forced circulation of the coolant (light demineralised water).  The NRI, plc. operates the reactor LVR-15 on a commercial basis. The reactor serves as a radiation source for:
  • material testing experiments of the reactor pressure vessel at water loops, where the temperature, pressure, dosis and water chemistry conditions similar to that existing in reactors of nuclear power stations are simulated
  • material testing at irradiation rigs
  • activation analysis with the pneumatic rabbit system
  • experiments at beam tubes in the field of basic and applied research
  • irradiation of iridium for medical purposes, irradiation for radio-pharmaceutical production
  • irradiation of silicon single crystals
  • experiments at the thermal column in the field of neutron capture therapy
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    Main Reactor Characteristics *
    Maximum reactor power
    		    10 MW
    Maximum thermal neutron flux in the core
    		    1·1018 n m-2 s-1
    Maximum fast neutrons flux in the core
    		    3·1018 n m-2 s-1
    Maximum thermal flux in reflector (mix of Be + H2O)
    		    5·1017 n m-2 s-1
    Irradiation facilities
    		    Thermal neutron flux density
       (n cm-2 s-1)
    Horizontal channels (100/60 mm)
    		    1·108
    Maximum thermal neutron flux in the tubes
    		    1·1012
    Graphite thermal column
    		    1·1011
    Irradiation channels
    		    1·1014 in fuel
       7·1013 at core periphery
       3-5·1013 in reflector
    Doped silicon facility
    		    1·1013
    High pressure water loop
    		    5·1013

    Experimental hall

    * The User Guide of the Reactor Service Division can be asked on the following address: Reactor Service Division, Nuclear Research Institute, plc., 250 68 Řež near Prague, Czech Republic. Phone: +420-2-6657526, 6857885, 6858351, 6858179. Fax: +420-2-6857567, 6857840, 6858155. E-mail: kys@nri.cz