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Calibrated neutron flux irradiation
Our offer
At the BR1 reactor we offer different neutron and gamma irradiation facilities for:
- Activation of trace elements for the tracing of leaks in pipelines of different chemical processes, the analysis of the chemical persistence and for flow measuring.
- Radiation resistance assessment of various high-tech components used in 'space' and 'nuclear industry' like electronic components used in satellites, Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG) temperature sensors and diagnostic windows for fusion reactors (ITER), and fission gas sensors for fission reactors.
- Calibration of neutron and gamma ray detectors in the neutron standard or gamma ray reference fields.
- Neutrography: a technique complementary to the X-ray radiography, for non-destructive testing of light materials.
Our equipment
The BR1 reactor is a research reactor of the "natural uranium – graphite – air" type; it is in operation since May 1956. The reactor runs on a daily basis (7 h of operation/day) at power levels up to 700 kW. Operation up to 1 MW is possible for time periods of a few hours. Various standard and reference neutron fields are available for irradiation under a thermal as well as fast fission flux:
| Irradiation facilities | Flux |
| Y channels |
10 11 n/cm 2.s (thermal) 10 11 n/cm 2.s (fast E> 0.1 MeV) |
| Large cavity (standard thermal neutron fields) | 10 9 n/cm 2.s (pure thermal) |
| Spherical converter (mixed neutron fields) |
107 n/cm 2.s (thermal) 10 8 n/cm 2.s (fast E> 0.1 MeV) |
| Cylindrical converter (fission neutron field) | 10 8 n/cm 2.s (fast E> 0.1 MeV) |
| Cylindrical converter (gamma field) | 0.8-25 Gy/h |
Neutron flux distribution along Y4 channel (at 700 kW reactor power) |
Neutron spectra for the possible irradiation configurations in the large cavity |
Contact: Vittiglio Guido