Research reactor Mainz

Research reactor Mainz
Institute for Nuclear Chemistry
location
Coordinates	49 ° 59 ′ 33 "  N , 8 ° 14 ′ 14"  E Coordinates: 49 ° 59 ′ 33 "  N , 8 ° 14 ′ 14"  E
country	Germany
Data
operator	University of Mainz
start of building	1960
Installation	August 3, 1965
Shutdown	2020 at the earliest
Reactor type	Swimming pool reactor
Thermal performance	Duration : 100 kW Pulse : 250 MW
Neutron flux density	Duration : 4 × 10 12 n / (cm 2 s) Pulse : 4 × 10 16  n / (cm 2 s)
Website	Homepage of the FRMZ
was standing	February 2, 2009

The Mainz Research Reactor ( FRMZ ) is a nuclear reactor that has been operated as a neutron source for research purposes at the Institute for Nuclear Chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 1965 . It has a continuous output of 100  kW and a pulse output of 250 MW.

history

The Mainz research reactor was set up on the initiative of Fritz Straßmann , then director of the Institute for Inorganic Chemistry and Nuclear Chemistry at the University of Mainz. Construction began in 1960, the reactor reached its first criticality on August 3, 1965, and the official opening by Otto Hahn finally took place on April 3, 1967.

In recent years, the research reactor has been in use for around 200 days a year with an average of 4.5 operating hours per day. Due to the low burn-up of the TRIGA fuel elements of around four grams of uranium -235 per year, the reactor can be operated with the existing stocks of non-irradiated fuel elements until at least 2016. In August 2007, the President of Mainz University extended the life of the Mainz research reactor to 2020.

construction

The Mainz research reactor is a swimming pool reactor of the type TRIGA Mark II. It uses uranium enriched to the extent of 20% as nuclear fuel , with around 70 fuel elements in use. It has a permanent nominal power of 100 kW, the pulse power is even 250 MW for 0.03 seconds. The reactor is charged with light water cooled and zirconium - hydride moderated. To concentrate the neutron is a graphite - reflector used. The maximum thermal neutron flux is 4 × 10 ¹² n / (cm ² s), in pulse mode it is up to 10 ¹⁶ n / (cm ² s).

The research reactor is erected above the ground together with the entire concrete shielding structure. Four horizontal radiant tubes and a thermal column for special experiments penetrate the shielding and extend to the reflector and the reactor core . A rotating "irradiation carousel" in the upper part of the reflector allows the irradiation of up to 80 samples in 40 positions. There are also three pneumatic tube systems with which the samples can be introduced into or removed from the reactor core within a few seconds without interrupting reactor operation.

research

At the Mainz research reactor, research programs are carried out in both basic research and applied research in the fields of nuclear chemistry and nuclear physics . Current research projects include:

• the development of rapid chemical separation processes to study the chemical properties of the heaviest elements
• the production of ultra-cold neutrons with a temperature of 0.003  K and a speed of 5 m / s
• High-precision measurements on fission products and
• the use of neutron activation analysis to study trace elements
• Determination of the lifetime of the neutron

Furthermore, the reactor is used for the education and training of scientists, teachers, students and technical staff. The research reactor called Triga Mainz is considered to be the most booked research reactor in the world.

See also

• List of nuclear power plants
• List of nuclear reactors in Germany

Web links

• Homepage of the FRMZ at the Institute for Nuclear Chemistry at the University of Mainz
• Homepage of TRIGA-TRAP , the Penning trap - mass spectrometer at the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry of Mainz University

Individual evidence

1. ↑ K. Blaum, K. Eberhardt, G. Hampel, W. Heil, J. Kratz, W. Nörtershäuser. Research with neutrons in chemistry and physics at TRIGA Mainz ( Memento of the original from December 8, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 487 kB), Natur und Geist 24, 65, 2008. 
2. ↑ Operation of the research reactor TRIGA Mainz in 2007 ( Memento of the original from January 1, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 70 kB), Institute for Nuclear Chemistry at the University of Mainz. 
3. ↑ G. Hampel, K. Eberhardt, N. Trautmann . The TRIGA research reactor Mainz  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , atw - International Magazine for Nuclear Energy 51, 328, May 2006.  
4. ^ Annual report 2007 of the Institute for Nuclear Chemistry at the University of Mainz
5. ↑ Nuclear facilities in Germany, Federal Office for Radiation Protection ( Memento from February 5, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
6. ↑ A "pizza oven" of great importance - the Triga Mark II research reactor, which has been operated at the university's nuclear chemistry department for 45 years on Rhein Main Presse by Andreas Schröder, as of June 8, 2011