Examples of Low Power RR: Training Research Isotopes General Atomic Reactor Casaccia 1 TRIGA RC-1, Italy. Profile 30

The TRIGA RC-1 nuclear research reactor (Training research isotopes general atomic reactor Casaccia 1) is a source of thermal neutrons. TRIGA RC-1 was built in 1960 in its first version with 100 kW power as part of the US Atom for Peace initiative. In 1967 its power was upgraded to 1 MW based on the ENEA staff design. The TRIGA core consists of an annular structure immersed in water which serves as primary coolant. The core is arranged in a honeycomb-like array forming an annulus with seven coaxial cylindrical rings of fuel elements. The reactor and the experimental facilities are surrounded by a concrete shield structure. The core and the reflector assemblies are located at the bottom of an aluminium tank (190.5 cm diameter). The overall height of the tank is about 7 m, therefore the core is shielded by about 6 m of water. The core which is surrounded by the graphite reflector, consists of a lattice of fuel elements, graphite dummy elements, control and regulation rods. There are 127 channels divided in seven concentric rings (from 1 to 36 channels per ring). The channels are loaded with fuel rods, graphite dummies and regulation and control rods. One channel houses an Am-Be source, while two fixed channels, the central one and a peripheral, are available for irradiation or other experiments. The diameter of the core is about 56.5 cm while the height is 72 cm. Neutron reflection is provided by graphite contained in an aluminium container which is surrounded by 5 cm of lead acting as a thermal shield. An empty aluminium tube (15 cm diameter and 0.6 cm thick) traverses the graphite reflector tangentially to the reactor core for thermal flux irradiations. The core components are contained within a top and bottom aluminium grid plates: the top grid has 126 holes for fuel elements and control rods and a central thimble for high flux irradiations. The reactor core is cooled by natural convention of the water in the reactor pool.