Nuclear Research Opportunities
for Industry &
Higher Education

Nuclear Reasearch Opportunities
for Industry & Higher Education

Nuclear Research Opportunities
for Industry & Higher Education

Experimental Capabilities for Nuclear Research

The fast neutrons supplied by the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) allow professionals to explore the interaction between nuclear physics, chemistry and nuclear engineering.

VTR, which can be adapted for several types of experiments, is designed to support university researchers as well as industrial designers and developers.

Experimental Capabilities for Nuclear Research

The fast neutrons supplied by the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) allow professionals to explore the interaction between nuclear physics, chemistry and nuclear engineering.

VTR, which can be adapted for several types of experiments, is designed to support university researchers as well as industrial designers and developers.

How VTR Creates Unique Experimental Capabilities

How VTR Creates Unique Experimental Capabilities

The versatility of VTR’s design can produce results for gas-cooled, lead and lead-bismuth, sodium and molten salt reactors. These technologies use different fuels and coolants than today’s light-water reactors.

The test reactor’s high-flux environment produces high levels of fast-neutron radiation. This allows researchers to mimic, in weeks or months, the wear and tear that would normally take years or decades to occur in a power reactor core.

Once operational, VTR will function as a user facility so researchers from universities, government agencies, industry and other organizations can gain access, run experiments and gather data to advance scientific knowledge and energy technologies.

Academic and commercial researchers will work with on-site technicians to insert experiments into one of the many test positions in the VTR’s core. Experiments will be inserted into VTR using several types of test vehicles. Researchers can also obtain the data necessary to verify and validate technologies.

After the experimental specimens have received the prescribed amount of neutron radiation, the specimens will be retrieved and examined. Developers can test fuels, metal alloys, non-metallic materials, sensors, coolants and other specimens in the facility. The results of ensuing post-irradiation examinations will then be used by scientists and engineers to evaluate how the specimens performed.

rendering of VTR facility from above
rendering of VTR facility

The versatility of VTR’s design can produce results for gas-cooled, lead and lead-bismuth, sodium and molten salt reactors. These technologies use different fuels and coolants than today’s light-water reactors.

The test reactor’s high-flux environment produces high levels of fast-neutron radiation. This allows researchers to mimic, in weeks or months, the wear and tear that would normally take years or decades to occur in a power reactor core.

Once operational, the VTR will function as a user facility so researchers from universities, government agencies, industry and other organizations can gain access, run experiments and gather data to advance scientific knowledge and energy technologies.

Academic and commercial researchers will work with on-site technicians to insert experiments into one of the many test positions in the VTR’s core. Experiments will be inserted into VTR using several types of test vehicles. Researchers can also obtain the data necessary to verify and validate technologies.

After the experimental specimens have received the prescribed amount of neutron radiation, the specimens will be retrieved and examined. Developers can test fuels, metal alloys, non-metallic materials, sensors, coolants and other specimens in the facility. The results of ensuing post-irradiation examinations will then be used by scientists and engineers to evaluate how the specimens performed.

rendering of VTR facility from above
rendering of VTR facility

Areas of Nuclear Research

Areas of Nuclear Research

The key to the VTR is it’s VERSATILITY.

VTR provides a platform to accelerate nuclear technology development for today’s light-water reactors and tomorrow’s advanced reactors by supporting research in six key areas:

  • Molten salt reactors
  • Gas-cooled fast reactors
  • Lead-cooled fast reactors
  • Sodium-cooled fast reactors
  • Materials testing
  • Instrumentation and sensors

VTR incorporates DIGITAL ENGINEERING and VIRTUAL DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION to streamline the construction process for the VTR, and, through use of these tools, for other advanced reactors.

The VTR platform incorporates two unique features to streamline the construction and experimental processes:

  • Rabbit systems (for rapid specimen/test insertion and retrieval)
  • Digital engineering and virtual design/construction

The VTR experimental platform will use RABBIT SYSTEMS for rapid specimen / test insertion and retrieval. This will contribute to increased flexibility for experiment times and improved data.

Illustration showing the reactor core, which includes driver fuel, control rods, safety rods, example non-instrumented tests, ELTA/RTA Fixed test locations, reflectors, and shields

There will be four test-vehicle types, or methods, of inserting experiments into VTR:

1. Normal Test Assembly:

  • A test assembly containing fuel or other materials is substituted for a normal driver fuel assembly.
  • Same size, flat-to-flat, as the driver fuel assemblies 

2. Extended-Length Test Assembly:

  • Extends through the reactor head and has instrumentation to record the relevant physical conditions of the test article
  • May be cartridge loops that use a self-contained coolant separate from the VTR primary sodium 

3. Rabbit Test Assembly:

  • Used to insert and remove a specimen-carrying capsule into the reactor core via a predetermined position for short-term irradiation during reactor operation
  • Can be recovered intra- or inter-cycle

4. Dismountable Test Assembly:

  • Same size and shape as a fueled core assembly but contains a removable test insert
  • Can be handled by the same equipment that handles other core assemblies
  • Non-instrumented or passively instrumented

 

The key to the VTR is it’s VERSATILITY.

VTR provides a platform to accelerate nuclear technology development for today’s light-water reactors and tomorrow’s advanced reactors by supporting research in six key areas:

  • Molten salt reactors
  • Gas-cooled fast reactors
  • Lead-cooled fast reactors
  • Sodium-cooled fast reactors
  • Materials testing
  • Instrumentation and sensors

VTR incorporates DIGITAL ENGINEERING and VIRTUAL DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION to streamline the construction process for the VTR, and, through use of these tools, for other advanced reactors.

The VTR platform incorporates two unique features to streamline the construction and experimental processes:

  • Rabbit systems (for rapid specimen/test insertion and retrieval)
  • Digital engineering and virtual design/construction

The VTR experimental platform will use RABBIT SYSTEMS for rapid specimen / test insertion and retrieval. This will contribute to increased flexibility for experiment times and improved data.

image of female scientist writing equations on board

There will be four test-vehicle types, or methods, of inserting experiments into VTR:

1. Normal Test Assembly:

  • A test assembly containing fuel or other materials is substituted for a normal driver fuel assembly.
  • Same size, flat-to-flat, as the driver fuel assemblies 

2. Extended-Length Test Assembly:

  • Extends through the reactor head and has instrumentation to record the relevant physical conditions of the test article
  • May be cartridge loops that use a self-contained coolant separate from the VTR primary sodium 

3. Rabbit Test Assembly:

  • Used to insert and remove a specimen-carrying capsule into the reactor core via a predetermined position for short-term irradiation during reactor operation
  • Can be recovered intra- or inter-cycle

4. Dismountable Test Assembly:

  • Same size and shape as a fueled core assembly but contains a removable test insert
  • Can be handled by the same equipment that handles other core assemblies
  • Non-instrumented or passively instrumented

 

Reactor Core

male scientist working on a computer in a lab

A Collaborative Effort

All of the VTR experimental capabilities and capsules are being developed by teams of experts from national laboratories, colleges and universities and industry partner organizations. DOE is also drawing upon the unique expertise of the following national laboratories in developing and doing VTR experiments:

A Collaborative Effort

All of the VTR experimental capabilities and capsules are being developed by teams of experts from national laboratories, colleges and universities and industry partner organizations. DOE is also drawing upon the unique expertise of the following national laboratories in developing and doing VTR experiments:

Argonne National Laboratory is advancing knowledge in the development of sodium fast-reactor cartridge-loop designs. The lab is also designing and performing irradiation experiments involving sodium fast-reactor materials in a fast-spectrum environment.

Idaho National Laboratory is advancing knowledge in the development of gas-cooled, fast-reactor designs. The lab is also designing and performing irradiation experiments involving gas-cooled reactor materials in a fast-spectrum environment.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is advancing the knowledge of mechanical properties in materials for structural and fuel-cladding applications to inform the development of materials with improved radiation tolerance. The lab is also designing and performing experiments in liquid lead/lead-bismuth in a fast-spectrum environment.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is advancing in-pile measurement (i.e., reducing sensing uncertainties) to more accurately characterize the boundary conditions and in-situ process variables for experiments in VTR. The lab is also designing and performing irradiation experiments involving molten salt in a fast-spectrum environment.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is developing a simple, rapid-sample delivery system to enable relatively short and versatile intra-cycle sample insertions into and out of the reactor core.

Did You Know?

VTR’s test vehicles will have large irradiation test volumes — up to 10 liters per vehicle — that will be available to all users. The reactor will be able to accommodate up to five extended-length test assemblies simultaneously, including cartridge loop test assemblies, which can be designed for operating at high temperatures (>800° C), if needed. Many more test positions will be available for experiments embedded in VTR fuel assemblies, including inserts, lead-test pins and more.

Did You Know?

VTR test vehicles will have large irradiation test volumes—up to 10 liters per vehicle—that will be available to all users. The reactor will be able to accommodate up to five extended-length test assemblies simultaneously, including cartridge loop test assemblies, which can be designed for operating at high temperatures (>800° C), if needed. Many more test positions will be available for experiments embedded in VTR fuel assemblies, including inserts, lead-test pins and more.

How VTR can Support Your Research

VTR can test fuels, metal alloys, non-metallic materials, sensors, coolants and many other materials. Click below to inquire how your university or organization may benefit from its many uses.

How VTR can Support Your Research

VTR can test fuels, metal alloys, non-metallic materials, sensors, coolants and many other materials. Click below to inquire how your university or organization may benefit from its many uses.

FAQs

Why do we need VTR? Why not use existing test reactors?

Existing test reactors, like the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Laboratory and the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are thermal neutron reactors and are not capable of sustaining neutrons at concentrations and speeds high enough to perform accelerated testing of innovative nuclear technologies under development.

Is there anywhere else this research can be done?

Not in the U.S. The only viable location for testing fast-spectrum irradiation currently accessible to U.S. companies is the BOR-60 reactor in the Russian Federation. U.S. researchers and developers encounter significant barriers when seeking access to Russian Federation reactors, including export control concerns for materials and fuels testing, intellectual property rights, quality assurance and transportation issues.  

What is a user facility?

A user facility is a federally sponsored research facility available for external use to advance scientific or technical knowledge under the following conditions:

    • The facility is open to all interested potential users without regard to nationality or institutional affiliation.
    • Allocation of facility resources is determined by merit review of the proposed work.
    • User fees are not charged for non-proprietary work if the user intends to publish the research results in the open literature. Full cost recovery is required for proprietary work.
    • The facility provides resources sufficient for users to conduct work safely and efficiently.
    • The facility supports a formal user organization to represent the users and facilitate sharing of information, forming collaborations and organizing research efforts among users.
    • The facility capability does not compete with an available private sector capability.

Will university or industry researchers have access to VTR?

Yes, VTR will operate as a scientific user facility where researchers from national laboraties, universities, industry and other organizations will have access to its capabilities.

How will VTR be authorized or licensed?

Since VTR will be used for research and not to generate electricity, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). VTR will be overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy, which has the legal authority to develop and operate reactors as authorized by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974. DOE, just like the NRC, places great importance on protecting the public, workers and the environment. The two federal agencies are working closely as NRC prepares to license new commercial reactors in the future.  

What research or technologies will VTR support?

With four cartridge test loops, a rapid-shuttle test loop also known as a “rabbit,” multiple positions for standard tests and possible insertion of dismountable test elements in any of the fuel positions in the reactor core, VTR will be able to run several types of tests simultaneously, including experiments for:

·         Molten salt reactors

·         Sodium-cooled fast reactors

·         Lead-cooled fast reactors

·         Gas-cooled fast reactors

·         Structural materials testing for any reactor technology, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) existing fleet of reactors

·         Instrumentation, sensors and controls

Contact:

Laura.Scheele@inl.gov

         
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