Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRRF) at TA-5

The Annular Core Research Reactor Facility (ACRRF) is located in Technical Area-V (TA-V) at Sandia National Laboratories on DOE land within the Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB).  The Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) is a pool-type research reactor capable of pulsed operation, steady-state operation, a tailored transient rod withdrawal operation.  This facility provides a large central irradiation chamber, a neutron radiography facility, two interchangeable fuel ringed external cavities, and a large unfueled external cavity.

Testing Capabilities

The reactor was designed to produce a high yield of high-energy neutrons in the central irradiation dry cavity and other experimental facilities over a very short time-range pulse.  The reactor is equipped with two external facilities: one that provides additional space for experiments (20” internal cavity) at a slightly reduced radiation field intensity, and a neutron radiography facility capable of producing an intense beam of fully thermalized neutrons.

The facility can be utilized to provide hands-on training in physical protection methodologies, as a location to test new safeguards and additional protocol technologies.  The facility is open to foreign nationals with prior authorization, and could be an ideal venue for cooperative safeguards development.

Accomplishments

The facility has generated over 1,000 experiment plans and has conducted more than 9,200 critical operations including irradiation of:

• Explosive components for defense programs and development
• Radioactive materials (e.g., fission products, tritium)
• Nuclear and nuclear fuel materials (e.g., fissionable material as commercial, experimental, and space reactor fuel types)
• Nuclear fuel safety studies

In addition, the ACRRF has been used for:

• Isotope target characterization and safety envelope validation
• Testing neutron spectrum modifying fixtures (moderators, neutron absorbers) to alter the average neutron energy levels or adjust (reduce or increase) the photon field
• Electronic circuit boards and their components (e.g., transistors, diodes) for defense programs, space programs and energy research programs
• Passive neutron and/or gamma dosimetry devices (e.g., activation foils, fission foils) for radiation effects sciences
• Active neutron and/or gamma dosimetry devices (e.g., neutron/gamma detectors, semiconductor devices) for detector development

Past Users

NNSA, DOE, DOD, NRC, University Research programs

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