Australia's replacement research reactor project

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorHarris, KJen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-23T00:14:56Zen_AU
dc.date.available2022-09-23T00:14:56Zen_AU
dc.date.issued1999-10-26en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-07-22en_AU
dc.description.abstractHIFAR, 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 ANSTOen_AU
dc.identifier.citationHarris, 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.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate29 October 1999en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencename7th Meeting on the International Group on Research Reactors (IGORR 7)en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceSan Carlos de Bariloche, Argentinaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate26 October 1999en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.igorr.com/Documents/1999-BARILOCHE/ts1_harris.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/13835en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherInternational Group On Research Reactorsen_AU
dc.subjectANSTOen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectHIFAR Reactoren_AU
dc.subjectNeutron beamsen_AU
dc.subjectReactor commissioningen_AU
dc.subjectReactor experimental facilitiesen_AU
dc.subjectOPAL Reactoren_AU
dc.subjectRadioisotopesen_AU
dc.titleAustralia's replacement research reactor projecten_AU
dc.typeConference Paperen_AU
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
ts1_harris.pdf
Size:
66.35 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.63 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Conference Publications