Facility plays vital role in nuclear medicine and materials testing
Belgium’s nuclear research centre SCK CEN has submitted a comprehensive safety dossier to the country’s regulator for clearance to operate its BR2 research reactor on a type of high-density uranium silicide fuel using high assay low-enriched uranium (Haleu).
The federally funded SCK CEN, which owns the BR2 reactor, said the change to the new fuel will help prevent the potential spread of HEU – a possible ingredient for nuclear weapons.
The statement said that after numerous tests, the “time is ripe” for the switch, but the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (Fanc) must first grant its approval.
In a test in 2023, three test elements loaded with the new fuel operated in the BR2 reactor core for the first time. “All qualification and validation tests have since been completed and the safety dossier has been substantiated,” said BR2 director Steven Van Dyck.
Van Dyck said Fanc has been closely monitoring the project from the outset.
Once approval is granted, Belgium will no longer have to import highly enriched uranium (HEU) for the BR2 reactor.
“Our BR2 research reactor would then be the world’s first research reactor with high-performance fissile material based on low-enriched uranium,” said Van Dyck.
The BR2 research reactor plays a vital role in the global supply of medical radioisotopes, materials testing and the qualification of newly developed fissile materials.
SCK CEN said it is “vitally important that BR2 is able to continue carrying out its social mission”.
BR2 is a 100 MW tank type material test reactor which reached its first criticality on 29 June 1961 and has been in power operation since January 1963.
In March, French nuclear company Framatome signed a contract with SCK CEN to supply the new high-density uranium silicide fuel elements for BR2.
Haleu is uranium enriched to between 5% and 20%, higher than the 5% used in conventional reactors but below the 20% threshold for HEU.
Previously, production was largely limited to Russia, but Western nations are now investing in domestic production to support energy security.
