Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility 'New User' Experiment

摘要

The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is one of the world's premier test reactors for studying the effects of intense neutron radiation on reactor materials and fuels. The ATR began operation in 1967, and has operated continuously since then, averaging approximately 250 operating days per year. The combination of high flux, large test volumes, and multiple experiment configuration options provide unique testing opportunities for nuclear fuels and material researchers. The ATR is a pressurized, light-water moderated and cooled, beryllium-reflected highly-enriched uranium fueled, reactor with a maximum operating power of 250 MWt. The ATR peak thermal flux can reach 1.0 ×10~(15) n/cm~2-sec, and the core configuration creates five main reactor power lobes (regions) that can be operated at different powers during the same operating cycle.