CROCUS

Experimental uranium-fuelled reactor.

46°31′16″N 6°34′13″E / 46.521238°N 6.570361°E / 46.521238; 6.570361Power100 W^[1] (thermal)Construction and UpkeepConstruction BeganJanuary 1, 1970^[1]First CriticalityJuly 13, 1983^[1]Staff8^[1]Operators2^[1]Technical SpecificationsMax Thermal Flux7.5×10⁸ cm^-2s^-1^[1]Max Fast Flux1.75×10⁹ cm^-2s^-1 ^[1]Coolinglight water^[1]Neutron Moderatorlight water^[1]Neutron Reflectorlight water^[1]Control Rods2^[1]

CROCUS is a research reactor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, a research institute and university in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The uranium nuclear reactor core is in an aluminium container that measures 130 centimetres (51 in) across with 1.2-centimetre (0.47 in)-thick walls. The aluminum vessel is filled with demineralized light water to serve as both a neutron moderator and a neutron reflector.^[2]

Power output is controlled either by adjusting the water level in the reactor—with a ±0.1-millimetre (0.0039 in) level of control, or with the adjustment of two boron carbide (B₄C) control rods—with a ±1-millimetre (0.039 in) level of finesse. The reactor has six separate safety systems: two cadmium shields and four storage tanks, any of which can shut down the reaction in less than a second.^[2]

CROCUS has a license to produce 100 watts (0.13 hp) or a neutron flux of ~2.5 × 10⁹ cm^-2s^-1 at the core's center.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "IAEA Research Reactors Database (RRDB)". International Atomic Energy Agency. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "CROCUS Reactor — LRS". École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.