The project of VR-2 subcritical assembly

Abstract

The paper describes the project of VR-2 Subcritical assembly (SCA) which is being developed and built at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU). VR-2 SCA is to be placed in a building of already established facility of VR-1 Training reactor which has been successfully operated by CTU since 1990.CTU has decided to build the new nuclear facility (VR-2 SCA) even though it already operates one (VR-1 Training reactor). The main motivation is a worldwide large demand for education and training at nuclear research facilities. Currently, VR-1 Training reactor is reaching its maximum capacity, especially during a semester when the utilization reaches almost 100%. It is expected VR-2 SCA provides additional capacity for training and education in a field of nuclear engineering and enhances research possibilities at CTU. Interesting areas of research that could be addressed at the VR-2 reactor are: benchmark experiments, criticality safety studies, studies of accelerator driven systems and development/testing of radiation detection systems.VR-2 SCA is designed as an open pool vessel including a water-moderated uranium core. The core will consist of a combination of an enriched and natural uranium fuel. The SCA will be driven by a D-D neutron generator. The generator can operate in both continuous and pulse mode, and thus allowing pulse neutron source experiments. The facility keeps a high level of flexibility where many parameters can be changed, e.g. geometry of a core lattice, moderator temperature, water level etc.