NUCLEAR ENERGY

Hot Fuel Examination Facility

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The Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) is one of the largest hot 

cells dedicated to radioactive 

materials research at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The 

nation’s lead laboratory for 

nuclear energy research and 

development utilizes HFEF 

capabilities in researching 

radioactive materials development and characterization.

HFEF began operations in 

1975, providing a two hotcell complex and radiationshielded rooms for handling 

irradiated reactor fuel and 

structural materials. HFEF 

hosted examinations providing data used to determine 

the performance of fuels and 

The Hot Fuel Examination 

Facility (HFEF) is one of the 

largest hot cells dedicated 

to radioactive materials 

research at Idaho National 

Laboratory (INL). 

materials irradiated in EBRII and other facilities. The 

facility performs transuranic 

(TRU) waste characterizations 

supporting the Waste Isolation 

Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New 

Mexico. Underneath the hot 

cells, HFEF’s basement hosts 

the Neutron Radiography Reactor (NRAD), a reactor built for 

neutron radiography irradiation 

of small test components.

Capabilities

The facility provides shielding 

and containment for remote 

examination, processing and 

handling of highly radioactive TRU-bearing materials. 

Shielded cells, unshielded 

labs, support areas and special 

equipment for handling, 

examining and testing highly 

radioactive materials make 

HFEF an invaluable part of 

INL’s nuclear infrastructure.

Modifications to the facility now allow for receipt of 

almost any over-the-road 

commercial shipping cask and 

partnering with the commercial industry to test used commercial Light Water Reactor 

nuclear fuel rods.

HFEF provides support to a 

variety of programs including, 

but not limited to, the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative 

(AFCI), Generation IV technologies and Space Nuclear 

programs. It includes non06-GA50728-02a

Hot Cells

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NUCLEAR ENERGY

06-GA50728-02

Teri Ehresman

(208) 526-7785

Teri.Ehresman@inl.gov

A U.S. Department of Energy

National Laboratory

For more information

destructive examination, such 

as dimensional measurements 

and neutron radiography and 

destructive examination, 

such as mechanical testing or 

metallographic/ceramographic 

characterization.

Development at HFEF also 

supports pyroprocessing activities at the Fuel Conditioning Facility. Pyroprocessing, 

or pyrometallurgical treatment 

of spent nuclear fuel, is the 

principal alternative to aqueous reprocessing technology 

that is being developed under 

the Advanced Fuel Cycle 

Initiative (AFCI). 

Significant projects performed 

in HFEF include:

1) Examination of fuels and 

components for the Liquid 

Metal Fast Breeder Reactor 

(LMFBR) and Integral Fast 

Reactor (IFR) programs;

2) Preparation and post-test 

examination tests utilizing 

large test loops for irradiation in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) 

and the Sodium Loop 

Safety Facility (SLSF);

3) Examination of test assemblies and fuel rods irradiated 

in the Fast Flux Test Facility 

(FFTF). HFEF is the only 

large, inert atmosphere 

hot cell that is suitable for 

examination of chemically 

reactive materials.

Experimental Breeder 

Reactor-II/Transuranic 

Waste Characterization

Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) was one of 

the first liquid metal-cooled 

fast breeder reactors to prove 

it could serve as an electric 

power generating plant operating on recycled fuel. Breeder reactors produce more fuel 

than they consume. EBR-II 

began generating power in 

August 1964 and was decommissioned in 1994.

HFEF still performs examinations on the fuels and materials irradiated in EBR-II, 

providing data to determine 

their quality of performance. 

The facility also performs 

transuranic (TRU) waste 

characterizations supporting 

the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant 

(WIPP) in New Mexico.

Hot Cells

The facility has two large, 

highly-shielded hot cells. The 

main cell, which is stainless 

steel-lined and gas tight, has 

15 workstations, each with a 

4-ft thick window of oil-filled, 

cerium-stabilized glass and a 

pair of remote manipulators. 

The decontamination cell has 

six similarly equipped workstations. Each cell is equipped 

with overhead cranes and 

overhead electromechanical 

manipulators. Cell exhaust 

passes through at least two 

stages of HEPA filtration. 

Radioactive materials are 

introduced into the hot cells via 

a shielded cask on a transfer 

cart which accesses the cells 

through an under-cell transfer 

tunnel. A penetration through 

the top of the main cell also 

allows the introduction of large 

components or fuel assemblies.

Neutron Radiography 

Reactor

The Neutron Radiography 

Reactor (NRAD) is a 250 kW 

TRIGA reactor in the basement of HFEF. It is equipped 

with two beam tubes and two 

separate radiography stations 

that make it one of the finest 

facilities in the world for 

neutron radiography irradiation of small test components, 

a process not possible using 

conventional X-ray methods.

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The NRAD reactor is a small TRIGA reactor that uses neutron 

radiography to examine the integrity of test materials without 

physically damaging them. It also serves as a neutron source for 

isotope production.

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