Today at 1.10pm, ANSTO’s OPAL research reactor returned to full operating power following its shut down last July when partial displacement of some fuel plates was discovered during a routine fuel change.
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| Cherenkov glow inside the OPAL reactor. |
After that event, a full investigation was undertaken, resulting in a new fuel assembly design. The process has been painstaking but necessary, and on 1 May the nuclear safety regulator ARPANSA approved the new design and subsequently returning to power.
“Going back to full power is a key step towards OPAL getting back to business and importantly producing life-saving radiopharmaceuticals for the half a million Australians who use our nuclear medicine each year,” said Dr Ron Cameron, ANSTO’s Acting Chief Executive Officer.
“In addition, we can also resume producing neutron beams for cutting edge research into the structure and chemistry of a variety of materials used in everyday life, as well as irradiating silicon ingots for the electronics industry.
“However it is good to once again see the water in OPAL’s 13 metre-deep pool, where the reactor sits, emitting the distinctive blue glow of Cerenkov radiation,” said Dr Cameron.
OPAL replaced Australia’s first nuclear research reactor, HIFAR (High Flux Australian Reactor) which shut down at the beginning of 2007 after almost 50 years of service. OPAL is designed to provide Australia, and countries in our region, with important nuclear medicine needs for the next 40 years.
Published: 23/05/2008