Jules Horowitz reactor. France development of an experimental loop integrating an optimized irradiation process

Experimental reactors in the world enable researchers to meet the needs of industry and institutions not only by providing support to the existing nuclear infrastructure (Gen.2) but also by preparing the future generation (Gen.3, Gen.4) or even by responding to other needs as well (supports with fusion, medical applications). It is for this specific purpose that the Jules Horowitz Polyvalent Irradiation Reactor is now being built at the CEA Cadarache Research Center (located in the south of France). This Material Testing Reactor (MTR type) is designed to irradiate materials or fuel samples for various experimental tests. The reactor will also produce Mo99 radioelements that will supply 25% to 50% of current European needs. The goal of this paper is to describe a fuel irradiation loop, now under study, that will be designed to carry out power ramps tests to provide technical support to the Generation 2 and 3 nuclear power plants. In order to increase its irradiation capacity (2 to 3 per cycle), this loop takes into account the requirements that will lead to the optimization of all experimental processes in the facility (such as non-destructive examinations before and after the test, specific loading tools). All these considerations are being taken into account in order to offer to the customer's complete and optimized conditions in terms of experimental irradiations processes. (author)