Status of TRR-II project: Conceptual design

The Taiwan Research Reactor (TRR) operated by the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) went critical in 1973 but was permanently shut down in 1988. In order to reconstruct the original TRR into a new multi-purpose and state-of-the-art research reactor, a 'TRR System Improvement and Utilization Promotion' (TRR-II) project was proposed by INER since 1989. After a long series of review and modification processes, the TRR-II project finally got a green light from the government in October 1998. The major tasks of the project include removing the old reactor vessel from its original location, dismantling the old core internals, constructing a new open pool type reactor, installing various modern experimental facilities, and training personnel necessary for operation and utilization of the new reactor as well. Most of the conceptual design of these tasks have been completed by the TRR-II project team and reviewed by a team of international experts. This paper describes the major characteristics of TRR, the way of handling the original TRR reactor vessel, the design concepts of the new reactor and the experimental facilities associated with it. Finally, the strategy as well as the approach to promoting the utilization of the new reactor will also be outlined. (author)