Nuclear and Energy Research Institute

National Nuclear Energy Commission

IPEN-CNEN/SP

F. A. Genezini1, A. J. Fernando1, A. Marra Neto1, P. E. Aoki2, W. A. P. Calvo2

National Nuclear Energy Commission - Nuclear and Energy Research Institute 1Nuclear Research Reactor Centre

2Radiation Technology Centre IPEN-CNEN/SP

Contents IEA R1 Research Reactor (5MW)

• Research Reactors in Brazil

• History, activities and ageing program

IEA R1 Research Reactor for Industrial Applications

• Neutron imaging, neutron diffraction and NAA in industry

• Silicon dopping

• Material tests for Brazilian Navy

• Radiotracers in health

• Radiotracers and radioactive sealed sources in industry

• Radiotracers of noble gases ( 40Ar and 79Kr)

Final Remarks

Multipurpose Research Reactor (30MW)

MCTIC Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications

CNEN National Nuclear Energy Commission - Brazil

~1600 workers

CDTN (MG) Nuclear Technology

and Development Center 316 workers

IEN (RJ) Nuclear Engineering

Institute 225 workers

IPEN - (SP) Nuclear and Energy

Research Institute

773 workers

IRD (RJ) Radiological Protection and Dosimetry Institute

225 workers

CRCN (PE) Regional Center of Nuclear Sciences

63 workers

National Nuclear Energy Commission - BRAZIL

There are other (6) smaller units: Angra dos Reis District, Rio de Janeiro, RJ; Caetite District, Caetité, BA;

Fortaleza District, Fortaleza, CE; Goiania District, Goiânia, GO; Planalto Central District, Brasília, DF; Laboratory

Division of Poços Caldas, Poços de Caldas, MG.

Federal Government Autarchy under the Ministry of Science, Technology , Innovations and Communications

Acts in P&D in the Nuclear Technology field, as well as rendering technological services and education

Regulatory Authority

Name Applications Power Localization Type

IPEN/MB-01 Critical facility PWR core analysis

100 W IPEN-CNEN/SP Pin – open core

ARGONAUTA Research and training 500 W IEN-CNEN/RJ Argonaut

IPR-R1 Research and training 100 kW CDTN-CNEN/MG

Triga MARK-I

IEA-R1 Radioisotope production, research and training

5 MW IPEN-CNEN/SP

Pool type – MTR core

Nuclear Research Reactors in Brazil

100 W 500 W 100 kW 5MW

Nuclear and Energy Research Institute

Located in the campus of Sao Paulo University (USP) Total area of about 500,000 m2

102,000 m2 of building area 11 Research Centers 773 permanent staff 1,333 undergraduate and graduate students 100 Post doctorates 361 Collaborators

IEA R1 Research Reactor (5MW)

IPEN/MB-01 Research Reactor (100W)

IPEN’s Main Facilities

Nuclear Radioactive

IEA-R1 Research Reactor (1957 – 5MW)

IPEN/MB-01 Reactor (1987 – 100W)

Nuclear Fuel Centre (R&D, production)

2 Cyclotron Accelerators - IBA (Cyclones 30MeV and

18/9MEV)

2 Electron Beam Accelerator - RDI (1.5MeV)

Radiopharmacy Centre

3 Gamma Irradiators (60Co)

Terawatt Laser

Unity of treatment and storage of radioactive waste

IEA-R1 Research Reactor (5MW)

On September, 1955 under the Atoms for Peace program, the USA and Brazilian governments agreed to construct a swimming-pool type research reactor in São Paulo, Brazil and the task was concluded on 1957

First criticality was achieved on 16th September, 1957

First reactor operating in the southern hemisphere

IEA-R1 Research Reactor (5MW)

Constructor: Babcok-Wilcox

First criticality: September 16th, 1957

Type: open pool type reactor

Moderator and coolant: light water

Reflectors: graphite and beryllium

Nominal power: 5 MW

Operating power: 4.5MW

Thermal flux: 5 x 1013 n cm-2 s-1

Fast flux: 1.3 x 1013 n cm-2 s-1

8 radial and 2 tangential beam holes

Operating cycle: 9h per day, 4 days per week

Fuel elements: 20% enriched uranium

24 rods of U3Si2-Al, 3 g.cm-3 produced at IPEN

IEA-R1 Research Reactor (5MW)

The IAE-R1 Research Reactor has a continuous program of modernization

Past main

improvements

Recent main

improvements

Ongoing main

improvements

IEA-R1 Research Reactor - Ageing Program

IEA-R1 reactor acts in three types of activities

1) R&D: Basic and applied research in nuclear sciences in association with universities and other research institutes

2) Teaching: At undergraduate and graduate levels together Sao Paulo University

3) Products and Services: Resulting from the reactor uses for industrial applications, hospitals, clinics, environmental agencies

IEA-R1 Research Reactor - Main Activities

Valve 3D image

Valve for water flow control Valve for water flow control

Water distribution map

Hydrogen Fuel cell - Proton Exchange Membrane - PEM / MEA

Water into the MEA

Neutron Imaging for Industrial applications

High Resolution Neutron Diffraction for Industrial Applications

The texture of materials in metals

Microstructure and porous media of Portland cement

Measurement of residual stress in components

Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) (inside the PSD shield)

Neutron monochromator (inside the main shield)

Rotating-Oscillating Collimator (ROC)

Sapphire filter (inserted into the in-pile collimator)

Beam shutter (inside the main shield)

Main neutron shield

PSD neutron shield

Movable platform Extra shield

2- drive mechanism

*Parente, C. B. R., Mazzocchi, V. L., Mestnik-Filho, J., Mascarenhas, Y. P., Berliner, R. Nucl. Instr. and Meth. in Phys. Res. A 622 (2010) 678-684.

Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) for Industrial Applications

Corrosion evaluation in alloys used as biomaterials

Elemental composition of alloys used as biomaterials

Abrasiveness of tooth paste

Chemical compositions of fertilizers

CFC determination in polyurethane used as insulator in refrigerators

Silicon Production for Electronic Industries

Silicon Irradiation Rig

NTD – Neutron Transmutation Doping

30Si(n,)31Si 31P+β-

Neutron Flux profile

Crystal diameter: 5 inch Crystal Length: 50 cm Target Resistivity: 30 Ohm.cm Annual Capacity: 1200kg

Material testing under high neutron flux

Material irradiations (fuel mini plates, pressurized instrumented element)

Material Tests for Brazilian Navy

130Te (n, ) 131mTe 30h 131 Te 25min 131 I

Iodine -131 Production

IEA-R1 Research Reactor can supply 60% of Brazilian demand

Irradiation of 50g of enriched telurium oxide (130Te O2 ) seled into an aluminum capsule for 254h under a neutron flux of 1 x1014 cm-2.s-1

(final activity of 12Ci in 131I) After irradiatiation the iodine is separeted from 130Te in the Radiopharmacy Centre

Samarium-153 Production

IEA-R1 Research Reactor supply 100% of national demand in Brazil

Irradiation of 37mg of enriched samarium oxide (152Sm O2 ) seled into a quartz bulb and aluminum capsule for 24h under a neutron flux of 1.5x1013 cm-2.s-1

Final activity of 3 Ci in 153Sm

Sealed Sources for Industrial Applications

1) Production of sealed sources (60Co, 192Ir, 182Ta ) Tantalum -182 - Irradiation of 1.25g of metalic 181Ta coated

with Al 6082 alloy for 5h under a neutron flux of 1x1014 cm-2.s-1 (final activity of 290mCi in 182Ta)

2) Distribution

350/year: 192Ir (25 – 100Ci, 74 days, 353keV)

20/year: 75Se (40 – 80Ci, 120 days, 217keV)

1) Iridium-192 - Environmental studies, in the form of a premixed sand (glass powder plus activated iridium) to study drag sediment in river

Irradiation of 380g of ground glass with 0,3% of 191Ir seled into a quartz bulb for 25h under a neutron flux of 5.5x1013 cm-2.s-1 (final activity of 19mCi in 192Ir)

2) Mercury-203 - Determination of the mercury mass immobilized in electrolytic cells from soda and chlorine producing industries

Irradiation of 120g of 202Hg seled into a quartz bulb for 50h under a neutron flux of 9x1013 cm-2.s-1 (final activity of 40Ci in 203Hg)

Radiotracers for Industrial Applications

3) Lanthanum -140 - Study the solid phase (catalysts) of Fluidized Cracking Catalytic (FCC) plants in petroleum refineries

Irradiation of 1.5g of catalytic with 1.45% of 139La into a sealed quartz bulb for 5h under a neutron flux of 4.3x1013 cm-2.s-1 (final activity of 325mCi in 140La)

4) Iodine-131 and Bromine-82 - Flow rate measurement and residence time distribution (RTD) studies in rivers, lakes and wastewater treatment plants

Irradiation of 20g of potassium bromide with 1,45% of 81Br into a sealed aluminum capsule for 8h under a neutron flux of 2x1013 cm-2.s-1 (final activity of 1Ci in 82Br)

5) Gold-198 - Impact study of great civil works (construction of artificial harbor, airport and hydroelectric reservoir) by labeling sand to be removed

from the bottom with emulsion of gold

Radiotracers for Industrial Applications

Radiotracers for Industrial Applications

A special irradiation device is filled with 40Ar . It is inserted into the reactor core and irradiated for 1 hour under a neutron flux of 5x1013 cm-2.s-1

6) Argon-41 - Study the gas phase in Fluidized Cracking Catalytic (FCC) plants

Irradiation container is pluged in a special system, which delivery the radiotracer directly into the shield bottles (final activity of 20Ci in 41Ar)

Argon-41 Production

Krypton-79 Production

Quartz bulb with 0.0449g of 99.9% 78Kr sealed into an aluminum capsule

Irradiated for 32h under neutron flux of 9.9 x1013 cm-2.s-1 (final activity of 600mCi in 79Kr)

7) Krypton-79 - Study the gas phase in Fluidized Cracking Catalytic (FCC) plants

After irradiation the aluminum capsule is taken from the reactor core and packaged into a proper shielding.

Krypton-79 Production

The aluminum capsule is opened into a hot cell with appropriate filters and then it is sent to the industrial plant inside a hermetic shielding

Krypton-79 Production

Final Remarks

In 2017 we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first criticality of the IEA-R1 Research Reactor (International Workshop )

Although its long operation, the modernization program allows us to continue its safe and productive use of the IEA-R1 Research Reactor

The IEA-R1 Research Reactor is looking for new opportunities to enhance its industrial applications

Multipurpose Research Reactor (30MW)

MULTIPURPOSE

RESEARCH

REACTOR

OPERATIONRADIOISOTOPE PRODUCTION

DESIGN / CONSTRUCTION /COMMISSIONING

FUEL AND MATERIAL

TESTING

NEUTRON

APPLICATIONS

RADIOISOTOPES

FOR MEDICINE

RADIOISOTOPES

FOR INDUSTRY

RADIOISOTOPES

FOR RESEARCH

FUEL IRRADIATION

TEST

MATERIAL IRRADIATION

TEST

NAA NTD

TEACHING AND

TRAININGNUCLEAR PHYSICS

MATERIALS

SCIENCE

BIOLOGICAL

SCIENCESTECHNOLOGIC

APPLICATIONS

HUMAN RESOURCES

FOR DESIGNING

SITE

DEFINITION

PLANT DESIGN

FABRICATION

(CONTRACTS)COMMISSIONINGCONSTRUCTION

(CONTRACTS)

ENVIRONMENTAL

LICENSINGNUCLEAR

LICENSING

FINANCIAL SUPPORT NATIONAL

PARTNERSHIPS

INTERNATIONAL

PARTNERSHIPS

HUMAN RESOURCES FOR

UTILIZATION, OPERATION,

AND MAINTENANCE

UF6

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NEUTRON

RADIOGRAPHY

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

IAEA ARCAL

CXLVI/RLA1013 (2016-2019)

Creating Expertise in the

Use of Radiation Technology

for Improving Industrial

Performance, Developing

New Materials and Products,

and Reducing the

Environmental Impact of the

Industry