1Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

L.E.N.A. Laboratory at Pavia University (Laboratorio Energia Nucleare Applicata)

TRIGA Mark II pool research reactorlight water and HxZr moderated

250 kW steady-state power

In operation since 1965Reactor tank:

1.98 m diameter, 6.4 m height with demineralized water

Reactor core: 44.6 cm diameter

64,8 cm height

90 symmetric holes: fuel elements, control rods, neutron

source, irradiation channels

Graphite reflector 30 cm thickness

Biological shield concrete

1 m thickness

http://www.unipv-lena.it/it/

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T.R.I.G.A. Mark II pool research reactor(Training, Research and Isotope production General Atomics)

First core configuration (1965)

neutron sourcecontrol rods

graphite elements

fuel elements20% 235U enriched92% HxZr

Rabbit

Central thimble

Thimble Fwater pool for large samples

Thermalizing column

Thermal column

Reactor core

biological shielding

Core and in-core irradiating channelsVertical cross section

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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T.R.I.G.A. Mark II pool research reactor(Irradiation facilities)

27 polyethylene vials0.8 cm diameter3.0 cm height

Central thimble (1.72x1013)

aluminum pipe 3.8 cm diameter

neutron fluxes in n/(s cm2)

Radial graphite reflector 30 cm

thickness

Rabbit channel(7.40x1012)

pneumatic sample extraction

Lazy Susan(2.40x1012)

Rotating rack for 80 samples at a time

Thimble F aluminum pipe 3.8

cm diameter

Thermal channel(2.52x1011)

7.0 cm diameter

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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T.R.I.G.A. Mark II pool research reactor(Irradiation beam ports)

neutron fluxes in n/(s cm2)

Thermal column(1.19x1010)

well thermalized isotropic flux

Thermalizing column

Various levels of thermalization

Water poolbiological medical

applications

(1.14x1012)

(1.12x1011)

(9,07x109)

Ø 20.3 cm

Ø 15.2 cm

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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T.R.I.G.A. Mark II pool research reactor(Irradiation fluxes)

Irradiation facility

Measured flux n/(s cm2)

Central thimble (1.72 ± 0.17) 1013

Rabbit channel (7.40 ± 0.95) 1012

Lazy Susan (2.40 ± 0.24) 1012

Thermal channel (2.52 ± 0.36) 1011

Thermal column (1.19 ± 0.08) 1010

(1.14x1012)

(1.12x1011)

(9.07x109)

(1.1x109)

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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The L.E.N.A. Laboratory(Measurement design, irradiations, sample analyses)

LENA buildingLENA staff

Spectroscopy and radiochemistry

Present activities:a. Studies of radioisotope production for medical

and industrial applications b. Trace element search by neutron activationc. Radiation damage studies on electronic circuits

and materials for space and accelerator physicsd. Radiocarbon dating of archeological and

historical samples and artifactse. Forensic analyses and inquiresf. Collaboration to research projects in medicine

(BNCT ) and nuclear and particle physics.

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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Possible extensions of the RDS_SPES Project (Metals and alloys, Ceramics, electronic circuits)

Three main questions for inorganic materials:

1) High irradiation neutron fluences needed to test damage in metals and ceramics; are TRIGA fluxes adequate to needs?

2) A metallurgy test laboratory is needed to perform pre and post irradiation tests on metallic samples

3) Metals may be activated by neutron irradiation, transmutation effects

4) Just an observation: a lot of interest, but lack of background and expertise in the present collaboration

Electronic circuits and components:No particular problems; integrated electronics is very sensitive to radiation damage

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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Possible answers to questions concerning investigation on inorganic materials: 1), 2)

1) Are TRIGA fluxes adequate to needs? a) This has to be verified. Possibly a factor 10 lower than the highest reactor fluxes

b) Consider also that radiation damage and damage evolution can be predicted by computational models to a certain extent.

c) Reliable radiation damage correlation requires integration of theoretical, computational end experimental tools.

2) A metallurgical laboratory is needed to perform the testsa) The Group of Metallurgy of the Brescia University is interested in a possible

collaboration; pre e post irradiation mechanical test on (non activated) metallic samples may be performed in Brescia

b) The same interest has been manifested by the Groups of Metallurgy and Machine Design of the Padua University

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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The Laboratory of Metallurgy at the Brescia University

diecasting plant

Vickers microindenter

optical microscopy

strain machine

Tests at the Brescia Metallurgy Laboratory

http://dimgruppi.ing.unibs.it/metallurgia/

1. All metal plastic properties can be tested: yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elongation to fracture, fatigue stress, hardness, impact strength, creep, ductility, brittleness, etc.

2. Microindentation and nanoindentation testing equipments are available for non destructive tests

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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The Laboratories of Metallurgy and Machine Design at the Padua University

Metallurgy studies performed 1. Neutron damage on microstructure:

2. Tests on mechanical properties: hardness, tensile strength, fatigue, etc

3. Steels and alloys for nuclear reactor use: valve bodies, cooling systems, canisters

4. Optical, SEM, TEM microscopy

5. Hardness measurement instrumentation

6. X ray diffractrometer

7. Corrosion laboratory

8. High temperature fatigue tests

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04

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Possible answers to questions concerning investigation on inorganic materials: 3)

3) Metals may be activated by neutron irradiationa) If metallic samples are activated by neutron irradiation, some testing

equipment may be installed in the mechanical workshop inside the LENA building

b) If needed and justified, automated “hot cells” may be installed tooc) Rad-waste creation and disposal must be carefully evaluatedd) A list of possible “hot” analysis may be considered and studied on a

case by case basis

LENA mechanical workshopLENA mechanical workshop

Andrea Salvini, CERN, 2015-02-04