A new era for opporunity and development for Australian science and technology commenced today.
Contracts for the construction of Australias replacement nuclear research reactor have been signed between the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Argentine company INVAP S.E. and its Australian alliance partners, John Holland Construction and Engineering Pty Ltd and Evans Deakin Industries Limited.
The contract will result in Australia acquiring a world class research reactor, that not only complies with stringent national and international standards in safety but also embraces the latest advances in nuclear technology. The value of the contract is within the $278. 5 million previously announced, a figure which includes ANSTOs contingency and project development costs.
"The reactor will have a power rating of 20 MW and will produce a maximum neutron flux more than four times greater than ANSTOs existing reactor, HIFAR", said Professor Garnett.
"Once the replacement research reactor is operational, it will achieve performance levels at least tentimes higher than those at HIFAR. This extra performance stems in part from the state-of-the-art neutron guides, which will have modern "supermirror" coatings.
These guides carry neutrons away from the reactor, so they can be used in a range of scientific instruments. The supermirror coatings will virtually eliminate losses of neutrons from the guides."
Australias replacement reactor will be one of only two reactors in the world using this technology for all its beam guides. It will be in the first tier of reactors worldwide, with performance comparable to the national neutron sources of Japan, France and the USA.
"As well as having a better performance than HIFAR, the availability of a cold neutron source in the reactor will open up completely new possibilities for Australian science in the study of "soft matter" like plastics, biological materials, pharmaceuticals, modern engineering materials, complex fluids like paint or food products, and so on," Professor Garnett said.
In terms of radioisotope production, the replacement reactor will be able to meet Australias requirements for the foreseeable future. The INVAP design has provided substantially more irradiation facilities, and substantially higher neutron fluxes in the high flux irradiation positions than ANSTOs minimum requirements. It will be able to provide support for industry at levels well beyond HIFARs capabilities.
Professor Garnett noted that some senior Australian scientists presently travel overseas to use major reactor facilities in Japan, Europe or North America. "We expect the replacement reactor will attract collaborators from countries with major reactor facilities in the Northern Hemisphere", she said, "and we see this as providing opportunities both for for the enrichment of Australian science and technology in general and for the education of younger scientists."
"The project is an exciting opportunity for the two Australian construction companies to expand their experiences, embrace new technology and engineer a project unlikely to be repeated in this country for many years," Professor Garnett said. "During the next five years, the project will provide a considerable injection of funds into the Australian economy and a useful boost to employment."
John Holland Construction and Engineering Pty Ltd and Evans Deakin Industries Limited will undertake the design and construction of civil and building works associated with the research reactor, and will also install components of the plant and ancillary equipment. These components of the project will have a value around to about $140 million.
Published: 13/07/2000