Research Reactor Group
Infrastructure, Planning, and Innovation:
Rationale:
Increasing global interest in a number of peaceful nuclear technology applications, including nuclear generated electricity, is manifesting itself in a growing demand for a variety of research reactor capabilities. However, available and technically capable facilities around the world are increasingly challenged to satisfy the increasing technical demands. With respect to the physical systems, structures and components; many Member States currently operating older research reactors are faced with difficult decisions regarding whether to decommission these facilities and invest in new, state of the art technology or initiate significant, complicated modernisation projects. Member States with little to no nuclear infrastructure are seriously considering research reactor projects as a stepping-stone to an eventual power programme, but lack the supporting organisations, institutions and experience required to initiate and effectively manage such an endeavour. Work in this area is designed to gather, consolidate and share pertinent information from within interested Member States regarding research reactor technical capabilities as well as the planning and implementation of different projects to deploy new or innovative systems, structures and components to achieve the desired ends. Activities will also address infrastructure, human resources and institutional arrangements needed for new national and regional research reactors.
This task is designed to fulfil these needs by collecting and sharing relevant information, including best practices and lessons learned.
Objective:
- To increase the competence of interested Member States to plan and implement large scale research reactor modernization and refurbishment projects including the construction of major research reactor systems, new national or regional research reactors and implementation of innovative systems, structures and components to satisfy evolving demands for research reactor goods and services.
Documentation:
Homogeneous Aqueous Solution Nuclear Reactors for the Production of Mo-99 and other Short Lived Radioistotopes
This publication presents a summary of discussions from a consultants meeting on the merits and challenges associated with the operation of aqueous homogenous reactors (AHRs) for the production of the isotope technetium-99m (99mTc) and includes the technical presentations given by the participants during the meeting. Currently, 80% of all radiopharmaceutical procedures employ 99mTc, a product of the decay of the isotope 99Mo. It is normally obtained through the fission of highly enriched uranium (HEU), but research has shown that the use of AHRs offers an attractive alternative to the conventional target irradiation method of producing 99Mo. The elimination of the need for targets allows the reactor to run at much lower power and therefore holds interest for companies developing innovative solutions to satisfy increasing demands for medical isotopes. |  |