Australia's replacement research reactor project
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Date
1999-10-26
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Publisher
International Group On Research Reactors
Abstract
HIFAR, a 10 MW tank type DIDO Class reactor has operated at the Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centre for 43 years. HIFAR and the 10 kW Argonaut reactor 'Moata' which is in the Care and Maintenance phase of decommissioning are Australia's only nuclear reactors. The initial purpose for HIFAR was for materials testing to support a nuclear power program. Changing community attitude through the 1970's and a Government decision not to proceed with a planned nuclear power reactor resulted in a reduction of materials testing activities and a greater emphasis being placed on neutron beam research and the production of radioisotopes, particularly for medical purposes. HIFAR is not fully capable of satisfying the expected increase in demand for medical radiopharmaceuticals beyond the next 5 years and the radial configuration of the beam tubes severely restricts the scope and efficiency of neutron beam research. In 1997 the Australian Government decided that a replacement research reactor should be built by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation at Lucas Heights subject to favourable results of an Environmental Impact Study. The Ei identified no reasons on the grounds of safety, health, hazard or risk to prevent construction on the preferred site and it was decided in May 1999 that there were no environmental reasons why construction of the facility should not proceed. In recent years ANSTO has been reviewing the operation of HIFAR and observing international developments in reactor technology. Limitations in the flexibility and efficiency achievable in operation of a tank type reactor and the higher intrinsic safety sought in fundamental design resulted in an early decision that the replacement reactor must be a pool type having cleaner and higher intensity tangential neutron beams of wider energy range than those available from HIFAR. ANSTO has chosen to use it's own resources supported by specialised external knowledge and experience to identify the technical and contractual requirements of the project. A project manager with extensive experience in major defence projects has been contracted and a team of technical and contracts specialists has now completed documentation which has been issued as a Request for Tender to four pre-qualified reactor vendors. The four vendors were selected as a result of a worldwide invitation in mid 1998 for expressions of interest. The tender process is a 'two envelope' system whereby the tenderers are required to submit in one envelope the technical and contractual details of their bid whilst submitting the pricing details in the other envelope. Tenders close on 3 January 2000. A contract is expected to be agreed by mid 2000 with commissioning completed during 2005. © 1999 ANSTO
Description
Keywords
ANSTO, Australia, HIFAR Reactor, Neutron beams, Reactor commissioning, Reactor experimental facilities, OPAL Reactor, Radioisotopes
Citation
Harris, K. J. (1999). Australia's replacement research reactor project. Paper presented to the 7th Meeting on the International Group on Research Reactors (IGORR 7), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, October 26-29 1999. Retrieved from: https://www.igorr.com/Documents/1999-BARILOCHE/ts1_harris.pdf