New EU project engages BR2 to ensure nuclear safety
Belgian research reactor tests fissile material for current and future reactors
The Belgian nuclear research centre SCK CEN is proud to participate in the European project ‘EU-CONVERSION’. The aim behind this project is to accelerate the conversion of high-performance research reactors by testing candidate low-enriched uranium fissile materials. To do this, the consortium is using the BR2 research reactor of the nuclear research centre SCK CEN. 'We can simulate specific irradiation conditions in our BR2 research reactor. This allows us to test the safety and reliability of the developed nuclear fuels in representative conditions,' explains Jared Wight, programme manager at SCK CEN.
Since 1962, our BR2 research reactor has been a cornerstone of innovation and safety in the nuclear industry. 'By testing fissile and other materials, BR2 is contributing to guaranteeing the safety of current and future nuclear installations,' is how nuclear research centre SCK CEN explains its purpose. And its crucial role is being perpetuated again today with the launch of the EU project 'EU-CONVERSION'.
EU-CONVERSION is considering the reactor conversion of the German research reactor FRM-II and the prospective French material test reactor Jules Horowitz, whose first criticality is expected in the 2030s. Jared Wight, programme manager at SCK CEN, explains the situation: 'The nuclear industry is making efforts around the world to reduce the use of highly enriched uranium as fissile material, which is intended to prevent a potential spread and proliferation of this material. The bulk of reactors have already been converted. Now it's time for the last few – including these two reactors. It's a tough challenge, however, because of their specific technical specifications. But it's a challenge we intend to overcome in part with the help of our BR2 research reactor.'
Two fissile material candidates
A total of two candidate fissile materials are still in the running: one based on U-Mo and one on U2Si3. The SCK CEN nuclear research centre will expose both candidate materials to extreme irradiation conditions. 'Previous irradiation testing of the candidate materials was limited to a heat flux of 470 watts/cm2. This allowed us to test them in normal, operational conditions. In this EU project, we go a step further and increase the heat flux to more than 500 Watts/cm2. We will exceed the normal operational limits to evaluate how the fissile materials behave under extreme conditions required by FRM-II and JHR. This is crucial to ensure the safety and reliability of the reactors. We are proud to play a key role in this; It confirms the international reputation of our BR2 research reactor and our scientists in this field,' Jared continues.
The candidate fissile materials will spend about 2 to 3 cycles, i.e. 55 to 75 days, in the core of the BR2 research reactor. Preparations for that demonstration test will begin this year, with irradiation in 2027–2028. Test analyses, after irradiation, will continue until 2030.
Test results
EU-CONVERSION builds on three previous projects, namely EU-QUALIFY, LEU-FOREvER and HERACLES-CP. 'In EU-QUALIFY, our BR2 research reactor also performs four irradiations. Two of them are complete, and two will continue through 2025. Test analyses are also pending. In the post-irradiation study, we will identify the thermal, physical and micro-mechanical properties of the irradiated fissile material. How does the plate swell depending on burn-up? What is heat conduction like with higher burn-up? Is the heat generated in the fuel distributed quickly and evenly to reduce the risk of overheating? And how does radiation change the microstructure of the fissile material? Those analyses will give us detailed insight into the behaviour of the fissile material rods,' Jared concludes. This post-radiation research also forms part of this new EU project.
European consortium
EU-CONVERSION is being conducted in collaboration with eight leading names in the nuclear industry:
- Technische Universität München (TUM) in Germany
- CEA, Framatome, Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Université Grenoble Alpes and TechnicAtome in France
- and Research Centre Řež and SÚRO in Czechia
This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement ID: 945009.
The project coordinators officially announced the project on 14 January 2025.
The official press release is available here.
