Operational Experience and Programmes for Optimal Utilization of the Nigeria Research Reactor-1

The Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) is the nation’s first nuclear reactor and it is sited at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. It is a Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) that attained criticality on February 03, 2004 and was licensed to operate at a maximum power of 31 kW three days a week in June 01, 2004. This presentation enumerates the measures put in place to ensure safe operation and adequate maintenance regime as well as the strategic plans for optimal utilization of the reactor. Some of these measures, which bothers on safe operation and sustainable maintenance culture that have been implemented include: strict adherence to the periodic preventive maintenance routines; standard procedures for prestartup, startup and shut down procedures; provision of a quick access to reactor top to facilitate rapid response in case of emergency, especially in the case of rod-stuck incident. Similarly, on the basis of experience gained since the commissioning vis-à-vis the neutron flux spectrum characteristics of the MNSRs, experimental protocols are presented for the analysis of elements producing short-lived, medium-lived and longlived activation products in geologic materials with negligible nuclear interferences especially for the analysis of Mg and Al in the presence of Al and Si respectively. Furthermore, research and development activities in core physics analysis and thermal hydraulics with regards to conversion from the current HEU core to a LEU core under the aegis of the IAEA Coordinated Research Project entitled “Conversion of MNSR to LEU” are outlined.