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Institute for Nuclear Research, Pitesti
A 41 years activity in the service of safe and peaceful utilization of nuclear energy
Established in 1971 and known for several years as "Institute for Nuclear Technologies" (ITN-1971), "Institute for Nuclear Power Rectors" (IRNE - 1977), presently "The Institute for Nuclear Research" (ICN - 1990) becomes, in 1998, SCN - Pitesti subsidiary of the Romanian Authority for Nuclear Activities (RAAN). The institute always had and still has as a main task to sustain research and other activities related to the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.
During its 41 years of activity, the Institute has developed methods, computer codes, and its own experimental infrastructure directed towards the making of end-products, technologies or services with applications in the nuclear power plants area. Involved in the development of nuclear energy, the Institute represents the technical support for the safe and economical operation of nuclear power plants, in accordance with international agreements on the safety of nuclear installations.
During the last decade, the research activity of the Institute mainly concerned the applicative studies for Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.
The main activities within the Institute are the following:
- Reactor Physics and Nuclear Safety;
- Irradiation tests;
- Post- Irradiation Examination of Materials and Nuclear Fuel;
- Irradiation technologies and radioisotopes;
- Nuclear materials and Corrosion;
- Evaluation of nuclear fuel performances;
- Out-of-pile testing;
- Characteristics and Treatment of Radioactive Wastes;
- Electronics, instrumentation and control;
- Tests and qualifications for nuclear equipment and instrumentation;
- Radiation protection, Environmental protection and civil protection;
- Design of Nuclear equipments;
- Nuclear Prototypes;
- Technological transfer;
- Quality Technical Testing;
- Metrology & IT;
- Quality Management.
The activity of the Institute is in full compliance with the national and international research programs for the research reactors and power reactors, which encourages international co-operation and scientific exchanges among different partners.
Infrastructure:
- Research reactors (Material Testing) - Steady State Reactor TRIGA SSR (14MW), and Annular Core Pulsing Reactor TRIGA ACPR;
- Post-Irradiation Examination Laboratory;
- High-Activity Irradiation Gamma Station;
- Laboratory devices used to manufacture experimental elements for advanced nuclear fuel;
- Devices used for testing and analysis: nuclear fuel, materials and equipments used in nuclear and non-nuclear areas;
- Stands for testing the fuelling machine;
- Loops for thermo-hydraulic testing at high pressure and high temperature;
- Equipment for conditioning and treatment of radioactive waste.
Achievements in the fields of scientific research and technological development:
- The nuclear reactors TRIGA SSR-14 MW and TRIGA ACPR started to operate in 1979. They are of American design, with high inherent nuclear safety, intended for research in both steady state and pulse modes;
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TRIGA Reactor
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- The Post-Irradiation Examination Laboratory first started operation in 1983; it is has been used to investigate the fuel and the structural materials typical for power reactors. The laboratory in Pitesti is the only one of the kind in the country and one of the most performing at international level;
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Hot cell operating area
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- Design, manufacturing and qualification of nuclear fuel used in Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (1986);
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Candu fuel bundle
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- Commissioning in 1995 at Unit 1 - CNE Cernavoda the Failed Fuel Location System's, equipment was fully designed and manufactured by ICN Pitesti, considering all specifications issued by canadian specialists. The main utilisations of this complex equipment are to identify the channel, which contains defective fuel, supervising its extraction and measuring the reactivity in the channel. During the nuclear plant activity, ICN Pitesti has ensured technical assistance, updated the electronic system and developed the control-command programs for this equipment;
- Taking part in all technological stages that led to commissioning Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (1996);
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- Functional tests for the most complex robotic equipment used in a Cernavoda NPP - "Fuelling Machine". After the evaluation, the qualification of equipment and of the technologies owned by the Institute, done by a team of Canadian specialists for the first time in Romania, ICN Pitesti has successfully completed the testing and delivery of two Fuelling Machine heads (2003-2005);
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Fuelling machine
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- ICN converted the TRIGA-SSR reactor from its operation on highly enriched uranium fuel (HEU) to low enriched uranium fuel (LEU). This activity began in 1992, comprised several stages and ended up in 2006. During this period, the TRIGA-SSR reactor always displayed high performances.
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Nowadays, our Institute activities are mainly concerned with two fields of interest: the Nuclear Power Plant in Cernavoda and the international partnership/co-operation. .
The Institute is currently involved in: technical-scientific co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Vienna; projects with AECL - Canada; common activities with the Nuclear Agency concerning OECD. We promote partnerships with other countries, which have power and research reactors. We participate in the Research Framework Programme organised by the European Union and in actions organised by the Joint Research Center (European Committee - Brussels).
Our Institute promotes experience exchanges with well-known Research Centres as: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA); Gesellschaft für Anlagen und Reaktorsicherheit mbH, Deutsche Gesellschaft zum Bau und Betrieb von Endlagerm für Abfallstoffe mbH (Germany).
The results obtained by the Institute specialists are presented in conferences, workshops and national and international symposiums. The papers produced in our Institute are made public in the pages of well-known journals and magazines such as: "Nuclear Engineering and Design", "Journal of Nuclear Materials", "Journal of Materials Science and Technology", "Radiation Protection Dosimetry", "Annals of Nuclear Energy", "TEC-DOC IAEA Vienna".
The Institute for Nuclear Research - Pitesti developed, implemented and sustained a Quality Management System according to the ISO Requirements 9001:2000 for research, testing, design, manufacturing of nuclear equipments and operating nuclear facilities.
The Quality Management System is certified by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance and authorised by the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN).
The high level of nuclear safety achieved by ICN facilities are also recognized by the International organisations for nuclear field.
Last Update: 18.01.2012
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Nuclear 2012
The 5th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development through Nuclear Research and Education
May 16-18, 2012
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