'Upgrading of the Halden Reactor Experimental Capabilities for Innovative Fuel and Material Testing'

The resurgence of world-wide interest for utilization of nuclear materials to produce energy in the last decades, and common problems in the area of nuclear fuel and material developments, are motivating the establishment of joint research efforts. The OECD Halden Reactor Project (HRP) is a good example of such a cooperative effort. The Halden Boiling Water Reactor (HBWR) at the heart of the HRP is able to simulate in-core conditions of modern commercial power reactors. The experimental capabilities of the Halden Reactor enable the HRP to be a crucial test facility for nuclear fuels and materials development for many years. Long-term international cooperation at the HRP is based on a flexible organizational structure and ensures the Project's continuing success. This paper describes the experience of the Halden reactor utilization and a description of the important experimental capabilities, which are constantly upgraded to meet the requirements of industry for innovative fuel and material development. The achievements of the HRP and future prospective plans rely on the versatility of the research carried out in the reactor with reliable testing techniques and in-pile instrumentation. (author)