Safety of low enriched fuel for research reactors – securing the supply of medical radioisotopes
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Euratom Research and Training programme has the following specific objectives:
- improve and support nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning, including the safe and secure use of nuclear power and of non-power applications of ionising radiation
maintain and further develop expertise and competence in the nuclear field within the community - foster the development of fusion energy as a potential future energy source for electricity production and contribute to the implementation of the European fusion roadmap
- support the policy of the EU and its members on continuous improvement of nuclear safety, safeguards and security
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
HPRRs and MPRRs are vital to a number of scientific areas, from basic research and materials research, nuclear physics, medical and life sciences to the education and training of highly qualified experts. These are essential for implementing the highest nuclear safety standards in Europe.
These first-class research reactors are mostly used for irradiation testing of existing and future materials. This enables scientific advances crucial to the development of applied technologies, production of homogeneously doped silicon for high-performance semiconductors and production of radioisotopes for industry and nuclear medicine. This enables a stronger European Health Union and a more secure, better-prepared and more resilient EU.
Detailed Call Description
Euratom research will be driven by further development and qualification work by European HPRR and MPRR operators to enable their research reactors to be converted from highly enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium, and/or to ensure the supply of alternative fuels, including reactor-specific prototype demonstrations. Challenges relate among others to innovative manufacturing technologies for nuclear components and metallic nuclear fuel using HALEU, specifically in the domain of monolithic UMo-based fuel production in the EU as the highest density HALEU fuel possible to improve uranium economy in the conversion of current research reactors and the design of future research reactors, without excluding other alloys and metals.
To secure the supply of HALEU, it is necessary to carry out R&D on the metallisation of low-enriched uranium by alternative methods to provide options to potential future EU manufacturers of HALEU. Advanced post-irradiation examinations and thermal conductivity measurements to support the qualification of high-density fuels and reactor‑specific licensing are also necessary.
Action should improve HPRR and MPRR operational safety and serve for state-of-art licensing procedures by developing, verifying and validating advanced modelling and simulation tools in relation to neutronics, thermal hydraulics and the mechanical stability of reactor cores using codes developed in Europe, e.g. SERPENT 2, but also by introducing digital technologies and artificial intelligence to reactor design. As a result, the action should increase regulators’ trust in introducing modern quality assured techniques into the licensing procedures of nuclear facilities and the evaluation of reactor safety margins.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
70%
Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is €60 000.
Αpproximate number of proposals: 1
Thematic Categories
- Industry
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Educational Institutions
- International Organisations
- Large Enterprises
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Semi-governmental organisations
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding.
European nuclear industry, research and other relevant organisations (e.g. for metrology), universities, technical support organisations, the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group and the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association, thereby maintaining the high safety standards for research reactors in the EU.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
Contact: RTD-EURATOM@ec.europa.eu
(Publish Date: 04/04/2023-for internal use only)