Technical Papers and Presentations

Engineering design studies of the feasibility of conversion of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) from high-enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium fuel are ongoing at ORNL as part of an effort sponsored by the U.S. Global Threat Reduction Initiative program. HFIR is a very high flux, pressurized light-water-cooled and moderated, flux-trap type research reactor whose current missions are to support neutron scattering experiments, isotope production, and materials irradiation. Advanced multiphysics models for HFIR were developed in for safety basis operating conditions. Several physics e.g., multilayer heat conduction, conjugate heat transfer, turbulent flows and structural mechanics were coupled together and solved for the inner and outer elements of HFIR. Alternate design features of the new LEU fuel were evaluated using these multiphysics models.