Name: Nuclear Research Reactors LVR-15 and LR-0
Institution: Research Centre Řež s.r.o.
Coordinator: Ing. Vlastimil Juříček; vlastimil.juricek@cvrez.cz
Website
The main purpose of the LVR-15 and LR-0 experimental nuclear reactors is to provide technological and experimental background for users in the field of research and development of nuclear technology of II, III/III+, IV generations and fusion, or in specific cases of conventional energy as well. The LVR-15 reactor is a multi-purpose research reactor producing 10MW of thermal power. The LVR-15 reactor provides a high-density neutron field comparable to energy reactors, suitable for example for researching neutron properties (on so-called horizontal neutron beams), for the production of radionuclides for medical purposes, and for the research of radiation resistance of construction materials in related experimental devices (so-called experimental loops and irradiation rigs) that simulate the operational conditions of different types of energy reactors. At the European level, with its parameters and experimental equipment, the LVR-15 research reactor is comparable to 5 other research reactors. Most of them, however, are approaching the end of their service life and the significance of LVR-15 continues to increase as it gradually takes over the research and irradiation activities of the other decommissioned research reactors. LR-0 is an experimental zero-power nuclear reactor that allows researchers to take very accurate measurements in the field of reactor physics to verify computational tools and nuclear data for their further use in research, development and safety assessments of nuclear technology. The high accuracy of LR-0’s measurements is
achieved by using unique measurement methods, which are often developed in collaboration with leading nuclear instrumentation suppliers directly inside the reactor. The construction of the LR-0 reactor was designed for the performance of full-scale experiments in the field of VVER energy reactor physics, however it also allows is users to simulate other reactor technologies, especially selected types of Gen IV reactors over the course of the last 10 years. The combination of experimental flexibility, as well as large field versatility, makes the LR-0 reactor unique in the world. The LVR-15 and LR-0 reactors are part of the regional network and global association of research reactor operators dealing with the operation, usage and safety of reactors, for example, EERRI (Eastern European Research Reactor Initiative), TWGRR (Technical Working Group on Research Reactors), RROG (Research Reactor Operators Group) and AIPES (Association of Imaging Producers and Equipment Suppliers). Cooperation with research reactors and institutions from around the world is developed within such international network.
