Irradiation Facilities ofthe OPAL Reactor

OPAL – Multipurpose
Cold
NeutronSource

Large Volume
Irradiation
Facilities• 20 MW thermal power
Bulk Irradiation
Facilities

Core
Pneumatic
Transfer
Irradiation
Facilities• Designed andConstructed by INVAP –Argentina

PrimaryCoolant• Compact core (~300kW/L)• Plate type – low enriched
Uranium Fuel andTargets• D2O reflector• Upward core coolant flow
• 2 independent & diverse
shutdown systems

Neutrons – For Health
10,000 hospitals in theworld use radioisotopes
40 million patients peryear
10%90%Diagnostics (cardiology,oncology, neurology)
Therapy / palliative care

Neutrons – for Science
BackScattering

Time Of Flight
Inelastic Scattering
High Intensity –Powder Diffractometer
High Resolution –Powder Diffractometer

CrystalAlignment

StrainScanner

Laue
Diffractometer

Small Angle
Neutron Scattering

Ultra Small Angle Neutron
Scattering
Reflectometer
Small Angle Neutron
Scattering

Operating instruments
Construction/commissioningNeutrons – For Industry
NTD - Silicon••••High and very high voltage markets
Low volume specialty productsHigh and medium voltage markets
Medium volume specialty productsSource: Topsil and Yole Development

Irradiation Facilities• Bulk Production Irradiation
Facilities.
• Long Residence Time General
Purpose Irradiation Facilities(LRT).
• Short Residence Time Irradiation
Facilities (SRT).
• Large Volume Irradiation
Facilities (LVF).
• Hot Cells and Auxiliary Facilities.
• Interbuilding Pneumatic Transfer
System (IPTS).

Irradiation Facilities and Target
Considerations• Target material containment/encapsulation• Reactivity• Irradiation conditions• Physical target changes• Cooling – forced and natural circulation• Anchoring/fastening systems• Handling of rigs and cans
• Rig Materials• Neutron Flux perturbations• Maintenance and Decommissioning

Key Safety Considerations• Target power limit (W/target)• Target heat flux limit (W/cm2)• Rig and target reactivity worth limit• Uranium plate rig and target configuration• Post irradiation decay time – activity and heatBulk Irradiation Facilities
FacilityQuantity

Flux (Thermal)
n/cm2/sUtilisation

High Flux

2

Up to 2.9 x 1014(peak)• Iridium 192 – industrial use• Lutetium 177 (from Yb‐176)• Other low volume commercial or research
irradiations as capacity and financial
considerations allow

Medium Flux

3

Up to 1.9 x 1014
(peak)

Iodine 131 by irradiation of Tellurium Dioxide –Thyroid disease diagnosis and treatment

Low Flux

12

Up to 1.1 x 1014
(peak)

Fission product Molybdenum 99 (by irradiationof LEU targets) which decays to Technetium
99m ‐ Imaging

Bulk Irradiation Facilities• Removal and replacement of bulk
irradiation rigs is permitted withreactor at power (when < 200pcm)• Downward coolant flow – poolwater as coolant• Rigs are 1.15 m long and 50 mm
outer diameter

Long Residence Time Irradiation Facilities
FacilityQuantity

Flux Range (Thermal) Utilisation
n/cm2/sLongResidence
Time ‐Thermal49
2 x 1012
irradiation to 1 x 1014
positions• Chromium 51 – medical uses
• Samarium 153 – pain management forbony metastases• Novel research targets and productdevelopment irradiations• Fission track samples – oil explorationindustry• Geological samples – mining industry

LongResidence
Time ‐ Fast

6
Fast flux > 7 x 1012
irradiation (with Cadmium linedpositions cans)

Planning for Geochronology samples – datingstudies

Long residence time Irradiation Facilities• Removal and replacement ofLRT targets is permitted withreactor at power (when < 40pcm)• Nitrogen for transfer andcooling• Target cans – 25mm Outer
diameter and 70 mm long
• Irradiation time from 1minute to
1 cycleShort residence time Irradiation Facilities
Facility

Quantity

Flux Range (Thermal) Utilisation
n/cm2/s

ShortResidenceTime2
6 x 1012
irradiation and 2.5 x 1013
positions• Nitrogen for transfer and cooling• Irradiated target automatically(pneumatically) transferred toLaboratory• Target cans – high density
polyethylene• Irradiation time from 15 seconds
to 15 minutes• Neutron Activation Analysis• Delayed Neutron Activation Analysis
Supports research and various industries

Large Volume Irradiation Facilities
FacilityQuantity

Flux Range (Thermal) Utilisation
n/cm2/s

Small
136 mm dia

1

3.5 x 1012

Neutron transmutation doing of single
crystal silicon
4 and 5 inch diameter

Medium
162 mm dia

31 x 1013 to 1.9 x 1013

Neutron transmutation doing of single
crystal silicon
4, 5 and 6 inch diameter

Large
213mm dia2

3.2 x 1012 to 1 x 1013

Neutron transmutation doing of single
crystal silicon
2, 3, 6 and 8 inch diameter

Large Volume Irradiation Facilities• Large volume rotating facilities• 600mm total irradiation length• Axial flux uniformity to ~2 to 5%• Radial uniformity to ~5%

Stakeholder Engagement and the Reactor
Schedule• Schedule is set per calendar year by middle ofprevious year
• 300 days at power in a “typical” year
• Co-ordinate with other producers of Mo-99• Allow for execution of the asset management
program• Requirements for shutdowns > 2 weeks areidentified several years in advance• Changes require re-engagement with all
stakeholders

OPAL Reactor Schedule 2022
Issue Date 18/5/21
Rev 0Jan
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

2022

Feb
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

OPAL Shutdown
Public holidays

2022Mar12345678
9101112131415161718
1920
2122232425262728
2930
312022

Apr202212345678910111213
1415161718
192021
22232425
2627282930

This schedule is subject to change based on ANSTO's operational requirements

May

12345678910111213
1415
16
1718
1920
21
222324
25
26
27
28
2930
312022Jun

1
23456789101112131415
1617181920
21
2223
24
25
26
2728
29302022

Jul

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930312022

Aug
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
312022

Sep

1234567891011121314151617181920
2122232425262728
29302022

Oct12345678910111213
1415
1617181920
21
22232425
2627282930
312022

Nov1234567891011121314151617181920
2122232425
26272829302022Dec

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930312022