Operation and Utilisation of the High Flux Reactor

The High Flux Reactor (HFR) of Petten is managed by the Institute for Energy (IE) of the EC - DG jRC and operated by NRG who are also responsible for commercial activities. The HFR, operated at 45 MW of the tank-in-pool type, light water cooled and moderated, is one of the most powerful multi-purpose research reactors in the world and one of the world leaders in target irradiation for the production of medical radioisotopes. 2002 was a challenging year during which the HFR underwent an unscheduled full cycle shutdown and a safety audit but nevertheless also managed, amongst others, to : - operate 275 full-power days - receive 150 visits involving a total of 955 people, which also included the Dutch Minister for Economic Affairs and a member of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. - treat the last patient in the current BNCT trial - underpin its strategic importance in the medical radioisotopes supply chain - launch a European Network on Neutron Techniques Standardisation. 2002 was the third year of the four-year HFR Supplementary Programme.