Nederlands
Irradiation Services - High Flux Reactor (HFR)
The High Flux Reactor is the most prominent nuclear facility in Petten. It is an indispensible facility for the production of radio-isotopes for the medical sectors, covering some 60% of European demand. In addition it plays a key role in international (nuclear) research projects, among which are projects on materials for fusion reactors.
Owner (JRC) and licensee (NRG)
The High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten is owned by the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Union in Petten. The research reactor has a thermal power of 45 MW. NRG is the licensee. The reactor is operated and maintained by NRG-staff. The HFR is crucial for some activities of NRG and offers many possibilities for research, industrial applications and gaining expertise and experience on nuclear technology.
Services
Initially, the HFR was primarily intended to be used for materials research. Past research focussed on the resistence of materials to irradiation with neutrons. Especially materials for fusion and fission reactors were evaluated and tested to enhance reliability of components.
In addition to this traditional research many projects not related to energy were initiated:
- irradiation of silicon ingots (NTD-silicon)
- characterization of materials with neutronographic and activation analyses;
- product improvement with gamma irradiation;
- isotope production for medical applications;
- the use of neutrons for the irradiation of tumors (mainly braintumors), called BNCT;
Especially BNCT and isotope production have gained in importance. Some 60% of European demand for medical isotopes is supplied by the nuclear facilities in 'Petten'.
Contact
E.J. de Widt, NRG-Irradiation Services PO Box 25, 1755 ZG Petten, Netherlands tel: +31 224 565839 , fax: +31 224 565999, e-mail: is@nrg.eu