Operation of the FRG-research reactors at Geesthacht

Two research reactors have been operated very successfully by the GKSS research centre over decades in a connected pool system. FRG-1: 5 MW, criticality October 1958, FRG-2: 15 MW, criticality March 1963 and decommissioned February 1995. The FRG-2 was scheduled to stop operation in 1991 for lack of scientific and technical interest for future use. The reactor has been used as Germany's largest material testing reactor for power reactor fuel and power reactor materials development and safety tests. The FRG-2 has also played an important role in the conversion activities at the GKSS research centre. The FRG-1 is being used with high availability for beam tube experiments for fundamental and applied research in biology, membrane development, materials research, neutron radiography, neutron activation analyses etc. To enable the sufficient and efficient use of long wave length neutrons a cold neutron source has been installed in one of the beam tubes. The GKSS research centre, the advisory board, the scientific community and other clients are demanding the ongoing operation of the FRG-1 for at least till the year 2010. GKSS has taken many actions to ensure the save operation with high utilization and availability for the next 15 years. (author)