Petten nuclear reactor

The Petten nuclear reactors are nuclear research reactors in Petten, the Netherlands. There are two reactors on the premises of the Petten research centre: a high flux reactor and a low flux reactor.

The high flux reactor (HFR)

The high flux reactor in Petten has been in use since 1961. Its capacity was increased in steps to 45 MW (thermal) by 1970. The HFR is property of the European Commission and is operated by the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG).

The life span of the current HFR will end around 2015. It has already been decided that a new HFR ("Pallas") will be constructed to start operating by this time.

The low flux reactor (LFR)

The low flux reactor has been in use since 1960. It has a capacity of 30 kW. The LFR is property of the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG). The LFR is mainly used for the production of neutrons for biological and physical research.

Medical importance of Petten

Apart from its function as a research centre, Petten is also a large producer of radioactive material for the purpose of medical diagnosis and the treatment of cancer (Radiopharmaceuticals). The nuclear facilities at Petten supply 60% of the European demand for medical isotopes. Also at the high flux reactor, one of the neutron beam channels, which was originally installed for performing fundamental research, has been specially modified for the direct irradiation of patients. This allows use of neutrons for the treatment of tumors after saturation of these tumors with a pharmaceutical containing boron. When hit by a weak neutron beam, boron will locally emit radiation that will destroy the tumor. This technique is mainly suitable for the treatment of brain tumors.

afety issues

In 2002, the High Flux Reactor was shut down for a few weeks because of two unrelated issues. There were indications of a weld defect in the reactor vessel and there were some concerns about the safety culture within the company. After completion of extensive research and the announcement of a series of additional measures, the reactor was put back into use.

As of 2006, only low-enriched uranium fuel is used at the facilities in Petten. As a result of political pressure from the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), research reactors are no longer allowed to use highly enriched uranium fuel because of its potential use for the production of nuclear weapons. [http://www.nrg-nl.com/general/nieuws/2006/20060508.html] However, the reactor continues to use highly enriched uranium targets for the production of medical isotopes.

ources

This article is based on information from the websites of [http://www.nrg-nl.com/public/facilities/index.html NRG] and the [http://www.ecn.nl/en Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands]