Operating the Advanced Test Reactor in Today's Economic and Regulatoty Environment

摘要

The advanced Test Reactor, located at the ldaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, is the US Department of Energy's Iargest and most versatile test reactor. Base programs at ATR are planned well into the 21 sup st century. The ART and support facilities along with an overview of current programs will be reviewed, but the main focus of the presentation presentation will be on the impact that today's economic and regulatory concerns have had on the operation of this test reactor. Thday's economic and regulatory concerns have demanded more work be competed at lower ocst while increasing the margin of safety. By the begining of the 1990s, federal budgets for research generally and particularly for nulcear reserach had decreased dramatically. many national needs continued ot require testing in the ATR; but demanded lower cost, increased efficiency, improved performance, and an increased margin of safety. At the same time budgets were decreasing, there was an increase in regulatory compliance activity. The new standards imposed higher margins of safety. The new era fo greater openness and higher safety standards complemented research demands to work safer, smarter and more efficiently.