Development of the Conceptual Design of a New Advanced
Neutron Source – fast pulse NEPTUN reactor at JINR

Participating Countries and International organizations:

Argentina, Belarus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Uzbekistan.

Development of the conceptual design of a new advanced neutron source at JINR.

Expected results upon completion of the theme:

1. The scientific program and the concept of the suite of instruments for conducting research in condensed matter physics, nuclear physics and applied research at the new NEPTUN pulsed reactor.

2. A working version of the dynamic bending model and evaluation of the effect of the pellet structure of fuel elements (compared to the rod structure) on the reactivity of dynamic bending at the beginning of the fuel lifetime and verification of calculations at RFNC-VNIITF. Technical specification for conducting experiments to check the shape of the bending of a fuel element prototype under rapid heating in the neutron flux of pulsed reactors.

3. Obtaining a permit for the use of nuclear materials that are exclusively in federal ownership (NM EFO). Production of the first batch of neptunium oxide for the refinement of the fuel manufacturing technology for experimental fuel rods and conducting pre-reactor studies of fuel compositions.

4. Evaluation of temperature shape change of the vessel, safety casing and reactivity modulator of the NEPTUN reactor. A list of experimental tests of chosen technical solutions to justify the design of the reactor. Working design documentation for a full-scale test stand of the reactivity modulator. Start of the manufacturing of the test stand of the reactivity modulator in accordance with the developed working design documentation. Technical specifications for the development of preliminary design and infrastructure projects.

5. Selection of optimal materials for use as a cryogenic moderator at the new NEPTUN reactor. Development of working design documentation for a full-scale test stand of a mesitylene-based cryogenic moderator with a system for fast loading and unloading of working material.

Expected results in the current year:

1. Approval of the technical specification, the program of pre-reactor studies of the properties of fuel compositions for fuel elements of the NEPTUN reactor and the conclusion of an agreement for R&D between JINR and JSC VNIINM for 2022-2023.
   

2. Assessment of the degree of applicability of the harmonic oscillator model, refinement of parameters corresponding to thermal processes in the real NEPTUN reactor. Calculations of dynamics for the case of a small gap in the supports. Preparation of initial data for verification of calculations in RFNC-VNIITF (SC Rosatom).

3. Preliminary scientific program and the concept of a suite of scientific instruments for conducting research in condensed matter physics, nuclear physics and applied research at the new NEPTUN pulsed reactor (IBR-3).

4. Approval of the technical specification and the conclusion of an agreement for R&D to optimize the reactivity modulator of the NEPTUN reactor between JINR and NIKIET. Beginning of elaboration of a list of experimental tests of the chosen technical solutions. Development of working design documentation for the test stand of the reactivity modulator.
   

5. Analysis of the efficiency of using hydrogen-containing materials (methane, triphenylmethane, liquid hydrogen, deuterium, etc.) as a cryogenic moderator at the new NEPTUN reactor (IBR-3) and their comparison with mesitylene. Development of working design documentation for a chamber-simulator of a cryogenic mesitylene-based moderator with a system for fast loading and unloading of working material.

List of Activities
	Activity or experiment	Leaders
	Laboratory or other Division of JINR	Main researchers
1.	Development and elaboration of the scientific program and the concept of the suite of instruments for conducting research in condensed matter physics, nuclear physics and applied research	V.N. Shvetsov M.V. Bulavin N. Kučerka  V.I. Bodnarchuk




FLNP VNIITF

M.V. Avdeev, A.M. Balagurov, G.D. Bokuchava, D.M. Chudoba, A.I. Frank, E.A. Goremychkin, D.S. Grozdov, K. Khramko, S.E. Kichanov, Yu.N. Kopach, D.P. Kozlenko, A.I. Kuklin, E.V. Lychagin, E.P. Shabalin, I. Zinicovscaia S.A. Andreev, D.V. Khmelnickii, 3 researchers




2.

Development and verification of calculations on the dynamics of power pulses and the vibrational stability of the reactor, experimental studies on the physical model of fuel rods

M.V. Bulavin M.V. Rzyanin




FLNP

E.P. Shabalin, 3 researchers




VNIITF

S.A. Andreev, D.V. Khmelnickii, 3 researchers




3.

Development of neptunium-nitride fuel and neptunium-nitride-based fuel rods

V.N. Shvetsov M.V. Bulavin




FLNP

K.V. Bulatov, 3 engineers




VNIINM

A.V. Davydov, Yu.A. Ivanov, 7 engineers, 4 researchers




4.

Optimization of the reactor vessel and the reactivity modulator for reducing thermal loads and shape changes, elaboration of a list of experimental tests of chosen technical solutions, development of technical specifications for preliminary design and infrastructure projects; development of a test bench (prototype) of the reactivity modulator and commencement of its manufacture

M.V. Bulavin M.V. Rzyanin




FLNP NIKIET

K.V. Bulatov, 3 engineers A.B. Goryachikh, A.V. Lopatkin, I.T. Tretyakov, 4 engineers, 3 researchers




5.

Optimization of the configuration of cryogenic moderators based on liquid hydrogen and hydrogen-containing materials and development of a technology for a quick change of the working material

M.V. Bulavin M.V. Rzyanin




FLNP

A.A. Khassan, 3 researchers

 

Collaboration

Country or International Organization	City	Institute or Laboratory
Argentina	Bariloche	CAB
Belarus	Minsk	BSTU
Czech Republic	Rez	NPI CAS
France	Grenoble	ILL
Germany	Berlin	HZB
	Julich	FZJ
Hungary	Budapest	Wigner RCP
Romania	Bucharest	INCDIE ICPE-CA
Russia	Gatchina	NRC KI PNPI
	Moscow	NRC KI
		NIKIET
		VNIINM
	Moscow, Troitsk Snezhinsk	INR RAS NFNC-VNIITF
South Africa	Pretoria	UP
Sweden	Lund	ESS ERIC
Uzbekistan	Tashkent	INP AS RUz
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