ANSTO has released the following update on OPAL's cold neutron source, and the plans to bring it back into operation:
In late November 2012, an expert panel that included specialists from the USA and France, reviewed ANSTO’s options for achieving a successful return to service of cold neutrons from the OPAL Research Reactor. ANSTO is fully committed to a speedy return to service with cold neutrons at OPAL.
The recommendations from the panel have been accepted, and in practical terms this includes:
- Over the next 3-4 months making engineering and operational changes to the system, with the aim to have it operating reliably in cryogenic mode, and in line with similar systems in other parts of the world;
- Once the system is operating in cryogenic mode, there will still be a delay before OPAL’s cold-neutron instruments are opened up to general-user access, as we test the system performance following the modifications;
- Further increase long-term system reliability (and thereby cold-neutron availability) by procuring a third compressor that will be integrated into the system;
- Further updates will be made in 2013.
Published: 25/12/2012