NRG puts HFR back into operation

NRG Press Release – NRG puts Petten High Flux Reactor back into operation

Production of medical isotopes resumed

Petten, 9 September 2010
This afternoon, NRG brought the High Flux Reactor (HFR) back on-line after carrying out repairs on a cooling water pipe. This signals the resumption of the production of crucial medical isotopes and nuclear research activities.

The High Flux Reactor in Petten is a vital link in the production chain of radioisotopes for medical purposes. The isotopes are used for medical diagnosis, cancer treatment and pain control. The nuclear facilities at Petten supply 60% of the European and 30% of the global demand for these isotopes.

In February 2010, NRG took the reactor out of service so that repairs could be made to the cooling water pipe. Fred Verzijlbergen, Chairman of the Dutch Association for Nuclear Medicine: "Because the two largest isotope producers in the world (HFR in the Netherlands and NRU in Canada) were both out of action for repairs for quite some time, the medical world has had to cope with serious shortages of isotopes and long waiting lists for patients. I'm happy and relieved that this difficult period has come to an end and that we can now focus on working hard to develop new production capacity. We urgently need the new PALLAS reactor in Petten to prevent a repeat of this difficult situation in the future."

Rob Stol, General Director of NRG: "We are very much aware of our great social responsibility. As you can imagine, we are delighted that the reactor is back in action so that we can resume our work. The first isotopes are being produced right now and our research into materials and fuels for nuclear power stations and recycling of nuclear waste is up and running again." Every day, 24,000 patients are treated with isotopes produced in Petten. Hospitals can expect to receive the first isotopes by mid-September.

Repairs to the cooling water pipe

The repairs to the aluminium cooling water pipes, which were encased in concrete, were focused on the local repair of several parts of the pipe. In August 2008, a jet of gas bubbles was discovered in the primary cooling water system during a standard inspection. It was already known that deformations had occurred in a number of locations in the pipe due to galvanic corrosion. The jet of bubbles itself consisted of tiny gas bubbles that were produced by this type of corrosion. Although there was absolutely no leakage of cooling water, NRG decided to exclude any risk and so began making the necessary preparations to conduct repairs. On 19 February of this year, the reactor was taken out of operation to enable the repairs to be made.

To protect the repair workers against residual radiation from the reactor core, NRG positioned a custom-made radiation screen in and around the reactor vessel. Once the screen was in place, NRG was able to access the cooling water pipe in the concrete floor under the reactor by removing the concrete from the space underneath. After inspecting the aluminium pipes and in consultation with the authorities, NRG decided to implement a localised repair. This meant removing the damaged material parts and welding back in place new aluminium pipe material. Before recasting the pipe in concrete, NRG performed an extensive inspection and test programme. The competent authorities were present while these tests were performed and evaluated.

The repairs were prepared with great care and the repair techniques were comprehensively studied and tested before being performed. The specialists, materials and repair methods were approved by external bodies in consultation with the competent authorities. The top priority was the safety and health of all the employees involved in the repairs. No safety incidents occurred during the repairs and the radiation dose level for all internal and external employees remained well below the planned limit. "The job was completed safely and there was excellent teamwork," says Stol. "A performance that we can look back on with great satisfaction."

(end of press release)

NRG (Nuclear Research and consultancy Group) is the nuclear expert centre in the Netherlands. Our products and internationally renowned expertise are frequently called on by both governments and industries. NRG is operator of the HFR (High Flux Reactor) in Petten, located in the attractive scenery of the dunes at the North Sea coast, only 50 km north of Amsterdam. Every year more than ten million patients are treated with radio-pharmaceuticals produced by NRG, and our isotopes for diagnostics, therapy and pain relief are used around the world. NRG is planning to build the PALLAS reactor in order to replace the HFR. PALLAS will be equipped to meet the growing world demand for medical isotopes and nuclear knowledge and services more efficiently and effectively.

Another aspect of our work is our durable focus on safety of nuclear reactors and attractive options for nuclear waste management, including recycling technologies. We are engaged in applied research enabling nuclear energy to become more sustainable. At NRG, we believe that nuclear technologies are essential for a sustainable society. And we are committed to devote all our energy to it.

Note for editorial staff:
For further information please contact:

NRG Communications, Juliëtte van der Laan, NRG Press Briefing, +31 (0)224 564967, mobile +31 (0)6 10148943, e-mail: info@nrg.eu

For in-depth information about the HFR repair, visit www.nrg.eu/hfr-repair.

You can download photographic and video material on the repair from NRG's ftp server, ftp.nrg.eu. User name: NRG. Password: HogeFluxReactor.

Information/comments: info@nrg.eu
NRG, PO Box 25, NL-1755 ZG Petten, Netherlands, Tel +31-224564950, Fax +31-224568912