The research reactor in Budapest was first put into operation in 1959. A full scale reconstruction and upgrading project started in 1986, aiming at the substitution of aged components, the enhancement of reactor safety, and the increase of reactor power to 10MW. The reactor reached first criticality on 12 December 1992. The regular operation was resumed on 25 November 1993.
The reactor serves for basic and applied research (condensed matter, radiochemistry, biological irradiations, reactor technology), technological and commercial applications (production of radioisotopes, neutron radiography, activation analysis, pressure vessel surveillance), education and training: (undergraduates, PhD students, IAEA training courses, etc.).
The Budapest Research Reactor is a tank type reactor, moderated and cooled by light water. The fuel of the research reactor is an alloy of aluminium and uranium-aluminium eutectic with aluminium cladding. The reactor was operated in 1994 for over 3700 hours, in 1995 about 4000 hours are foreseen. The timetable corresponds to the various requirements. The reactor has 10 horizontal beam tubes (8 radial and 2 tangential ones). The installation of a cold neutron source equipment is foreseen at one of the tangential beam tubes. Irradiations may be carried out by inserting samples into the 51 special vertical channels.
Any questions? Send a mail to: tozser@sunserv.kfki.hu
(last modified: May 21, 1996)