About

About CICRR

What is CICCR

Merged LRI Czech International Centre of Research Reactors (CICRR) consists of two existing large research infrastructures from the Czech roadmap – Reactors LVR-15 and LR-0 and JHR-CZ. The system of the supporting laboratories, hot cells, loops and other analytical and research facilities created within the recently commissioned facility from the SUSEN project is also included in the CICRR LRI.

LVR-15 Reactor

The LVR-15 reactor is a multi-purpose research reactor of 10MW thermal power. It provides a high-density neutron flux, allowing for a long-term representative material research of the Gen II, III and IV reactor materials as well as the potential material for fusion reactors. Thanks to variable configuration it is possible to simultaneously conduct several experiments at different positions within the reactor core and beyond it including horizontal neutron beam.

Horizontal channels and pneumatic rabbit system are used for neutron scattering experiments and activation analysis for nuclear analytical investigations and for fundamental nuclear physics studies. The common experimental in-reactor equipment (e.g. vertical irradiation channels, “Chouca” irradiation rig or others) is used for series of long term irradiation experiments with the possibility to change the irradiation temperature, but in many cases the irradiation rigs are developed and manufactured based on specific requirements for specific experiment and user needs.

LVR-0 Reactor

LR-0 is an experimental zero-power nuclear reactor designed initially for full-scale experiments in the field of VVER physics. Recently, special it was adjusted to simulate also other reactor technologies such as selected types of Gen III and Gen IV reactors. Experiments at LR-0 provide data for development and validation of codes and libraries for reactor physics and radiation transport and shielding. The main advantages of the LR-0 reactor are the low radiation background for high precision measurements of the core physics parameters, the excellent reproducibility, well described geometry and material composition, and versatility. Several selected configurations of LR-0 have already been included in the international benchmark databases as the so-called “reference neutron fields”. The main service for users is the acquisition of experimental data for validation of mathematical models, codes and libraries for reactor physics and radiation transport and shielding.

Experimental Loops

Loop technology is used in CVŘ to investigate the behaviour in the environment corresponding to the reactor environment for the investigations of the material – coolant interaction, coolant thermohydraulic studies, impact of impurities on coolant chemistry and other purposes, covering wide range of reactor systems (Gen II - IV) - Supercritical water loop, High Temperature He loops, sCO2, Metal Liquid Metal loops, The Lithium-Berillium Fuoride (FLiBe).

Hot Cells

The hot cells facility is designed to work with radioactive materials, having activity up to 300 TBq (of 60Co equivalent). Hot cell instrumentation allows to cover the entire process of material research, i.e. from production of the samples from the raw irradiated material, through mechanical tests, metallographic samples preparation, up to final microstructure analysis (connection with Diagnostic centre) and thereby provide essential data on the change in the material properties of the samples after irradiation or after exposure to the operating conditions of the loops.

Laboratory

A neutron laboratory infrastructure supports the operation of the research reactors by providing reference neutron fields – a neutron generator laboratory based on D-T generator for 14,1Mev neutrons with emission up to 1010 s-1 and isotopic neutron source based on 252Cf.

A gamma irradiation facility is based on a 60Co source and with possibility to test in a large range of temperature conditions. It is suitable for studies on radiation and thermal ageing of materials, components and samples, for radiation testing in space environment, for radiation-induced modification of non-metallic materials and for study the influence of gamma radiation on various systems.

Jules Horowitz Reactor

The JHR reactor with a capacity of 100MW will make it possible to use the influence of scientific work in the field of high neutron dose research for material research and research on the behavior of nuclear fuel. As part of this program for this reactor, participation in work preparations for the area of fuels, materials and the technological reactor itself is guaranteed. The goal of these working groups is to identify research and development needs in the community and prepare international programs such as JHOP-2040 or FIDES, within which data will be generated for the development of coverage of advanced nuclear fuels, the behavior of nuclear fuel during transient processes, and experimental facilities will also be created and methods for their implementation at the JHR facility, where these studies can continue even under more demanding conditions.

At the national level, the LRI CICRR corresponds both to the main energy priorities of the Czech Republic defined in the area of balanced energy mix and research, development and innovation, and reflects the main objectives of the concept of development of important energy areas in Nuclear Energy and Research, and with its technical focus and competences, the infrastructure also corresponds to the priorities of applied research defined in the field of Applied Research focused on the needs of the economy.

LRI CICRR is in also compliance with the main trends, challenges and recommendations of OECD /NEA initiative Nuclear Innovation 2050, which supports acceleration of R&D

and market deployment of innovative nuclear technologies and states that nuclear technology development requires the availability of specific facilities, and in particular research reactors, test loops and special instrumentation, hot cells and manipulators, and special transportation. LRI CICRR is also in compliance with scientific and R&D trends in Europe, where for example corresponds to the highest research needs in the nuclear area according to the Euratom Programme:

Long-term operation (LTO) of current NPPs in compliance with safety enhancement and radiation protection. Utilities started to be more focused on prolonging of lifetime beyond 60+ years, to improve radioactive waste management, as well as to attain the highest level of protection from radiation. Research started to be more oriented on new fuels & materials, enhancing safety criteria and limits;
Research in the medical uses of radiation, for the benefit for all European citizens. Specific goal in the Euratom programme was prepared, aiming to help stable supply of medical radioisotopes and optimise the use of irradiation time;
For research in fusion area, the goal is to support a shift from pure, academic research to scientific questions of designing, building and operating future facilities such as ITER. This will allow fusion to progress towards electricity production by fusion around the middle of the century.

The main goal of the merged infrastructure CICRR is to provide complex platform of the technological and experimental facilities, equipment and capabilities for research and development in the field of nuclear technology. This includes generation II, III / III +, IV, SMRs and nuclear fusion reactors, as well as relevant ionizing radiation applications, testing and development of detection equipment, including research in the neutron radiation field and education and training activities.

Within the users, several main groups with varying needs may be identified (the groups will also overlap and fulfilling all the needs within one LRI is a the key feature of the CICRR):

Basic research on neutron transport/interactions (research organizations)

Qualification of existing materials in extended operation conditions / development of new materials for nuclear industry (materials scientists, utilities and regulators
Nuclear libraries and code development and validation, core physics of advanced reactors (research organizations, utilities, regulators).
Coolant chemistry control (research organizations, utilities
Design, development and qualification of radiometric measurement devices (research organizations, industry
Education and Training (academia)
Development of the advanced technology, instrumentation and methods for the research reactors (CICRR, research organizations)