Australia’s $460 million OPAL research reactor is undergoing its largest ever upgrade to expand its neutron science capacity and ensure its continued safe and reliable operation.
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| OPAL is used for environmental research, production of medical radioisotopes and irradiation of silicon used for industry. |
Since February 2007, OPAL has been Australia’s only operational nuclear reactor, and this is its first ever scheduled major shutdown and upgrade operation.
OPAL is located at one of Australia’s largest research organisations, ANSTO in Sydney. Its uses include environmental research, production of medical radioisotopes, and irradiation of silicon used for industry.
Hundreds of engineers, scientists, technicians and other ANSTO staff have been working on the multi-million dollar project, which started with an approximately six-week shutdown in November that was completed this weekend. Further stages will completed by the end of March 2013.
The upgrade is a part of the Australian Government’s Super Science – Future Industry initiative. It has two major aspects:
- A significant expansion of neutron beam research capacity: At ANSTO, scientists use neutron scattering techniques to explore the structure and dynamics of materials at atomic or molecular levels. Neutrons produced in the OPAL reactor are directed through precision-engineered guide tubes to targets in a series of instruments. This shutdown / upgrade program will enable scientists and engineers to introduce a third cold neutron guide – more infrastructure which will deliver neutrons to new neutron beam instruments, enabling a broader range of research into advanced / better designed materials.
- Reactor maintenance, inspection and servicing: A number of tests, upgrades and inspections will keep the reactor reliable and safe.
“Ordinarily you wouldn’t want someone with my job title to proclaim there’s a buzz in the air, but there is, and it’s great,” said ANSTO’s General Manager of Nuclear Operations, Dr Greg Storr.
“Since the upgrade started, the reactor is a hive of activity: with ANSTO experts and international scientists all working together on the project.
“Many in the science community are watching progress with anticipation. This upgrade is a major step toward the exponential expansion of Australia’s science capacity.”
Neutron scattering and X-ray techniques undertaken at ANSTO and the ANSTO Bragg Institute solve complex research and industrial problems such as:
- Developing renewable clean energy technologies
- Helping develop antibiotics that combat the threat posed by antibiotic resistance
- Understanding brain inflammation caused by diseases such as Alzheimer’s
- Researching materials for use in computing, refrigeration, batteries and solar cells.
OPAL is one of the world’s newest and most sophisticated multi-purpose research reactors. It not only produces the neutrons for neutron scattering research, it also helps produce over 10,000 patient doses of nuclear medicines for Australians every week.
Published: 19/12/2012