Supplemental Thermal-Hydraulic Transient Analyses of BR2 in Support of Conversion to LEU Fuel

Belgian Reactor 2 (BR2) is a research and test reactor located in Mol, Belgium and is primarily used for radioisotope production and materials testing. The Materials Management and Minimization (M3) Reactor Conversion Program of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is supporting the conversion of the BR2 reactor from Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) fuel to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel. BR2 is a tank-in-pool type reactor cooled by light water and moderated by beryllium and light water (Figure 1). The reactor operates with downward flowing coolant at an inlet temperature of 35oC and an inlet pressure of 1.26 MPa. The reactor core is located inside a pressure vessel that contains 79 channels in a hyperboloid configuration. The core loading configuration is variable as each channel can contain a fuel assembly, a control or regulating rod, an experimental device, or a beryllium or aluminum plug. In case of a pressure loss accident, the primary system inside the pool is automatically opened to the pool by a pool connection valve (ABV4-1308) so that the reactor vessel can be kept full of coolant. Isolation valves on the inlet and outlet piping (ABV4-1304 and ABV4-1305, respectively) located at the pool wall automatically close tomore » stop leakage of the water from the reactor vessel. A bypass valve (ABV4-1301) located between the inlet and outlet piping is automatically opened to complete a natural circulation loop.« less