LOGO

AN INTRODUCTION TO PUSPATI
TRIGA REACTOR
UNITEN
January 20, 2015

Prepared by :
NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
MALAYSIAN NUCLEAR AGENCY
 Contents

1 Malaysian Nuclear Agency

2 PUSPATI TRIGA Reactor (RTP)

3 Conclusion
 Malaysian Nuclear Agency
 Malaysian Nuclear Agency (also known as Nuclear Malaysia) was
established through a decision of the Cabinet on 19 September 1972, and
had undergone a number of name changes, before assuming its current
identity.

 The idea of establishment of Nuclear Malaysia was came from former

Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Dr Ismail after his visit to BATAN, Indonesia
on 1970.

 Functions of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency are as follows:

 Conduct research and development (R&D), services and training in
nuclear technology for national development;
 Promote the application, transfer and commercialization of nuclear
technology; and,
 Coordination and management of nuclear affairs at national and
international levels and as liaison agency for the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA).
 Nuclear Malaysia on the Map

PUSPATI
TRIGA Reactor
 PLANTS AND FACILITIES

PUSPATI TRIGA Reactor SINAGAMA

Radioactive Waste Management
Centre

Radioisotope Production
Laboratory RAYMINTEX
ALURTRON

Secondary Standard
Flora Centre
Dosimetry Laboratory
NDT laboratory
ORGANIZATION CHART
 Reactor Technology Division

Organization Structure of Reactor Technology Division

PUSPATI TRIGA REACTOR
 PUSPATI TRIGA REACTOR (RTP)

T Training
R Research
I Isotope Production
G General
A Atomic
FUNCTIONS
 RTP Constructed in 1981 by General Atomic, nuclear research and
USA and reach its criticality in 28 June 1982 development
– Commissioned.
 TRIGA MARK II Pool Type Reactor with U- radioisotope production
ZrH1.6 fuel element.
 Operational power: Up to 1 MWth experimental and training
facilities
9
 History of PUSPATI TRIGA Reactor
2014
2007 Reactor
Remove DNA console
Tubes & IPTS upgrading
1989 -1990
Medical Isotope 1995
Production New Cooling
Tower
1987
1986
Dry Tube
DNA Tubes 2009 – 2010
New Primary
Cooling
28 June 1982 1999 - 2000 System
Initial criticality Refurbish
1991 Active
Isotope PTS Ventilation
1981 System
Construction 1983 - 1985
Neutron 1990 & 1995
Radiography Small Angle
Facility Neutron Scattering
Facility
Cutaway View of RTP

- Nuclear fuel
- Control Rod Major
- Cooling System component
- Moderator of RR
- Reflector
- Shielding
 DESCRIPTION OF THE RTP

REACTOR MODEL • TRIGA MARK II Pool Type reactor

MAXIMUM POWER • 1 MW Thermal ( Steady State )

NUCLEAR FUEL • U-ZrH1.6 (Standard TRIGA)

ENRICHMENT • U-235 (20%)

REFLECTOR • Graphite

TYPICAL NEUTRON FLUX • 1 X 10 12 n/cm2/s (Rotary Rack)

 DESCRIPTION OF THE RTP
MAXIMUM NEUTRON
• 1 X 10 13 n/cm2/s (Central Thimble)
FLUX

MAXIMUM COOLANT/
MODERATOR • 45 0C
TEMPERATURE

MAXIMUM FUEL
• 500 0C
ELEMENT TEMPERATURE

• Boron Carbide
CONTROL ROD
• ( 3 Fuel Follower CR, 1 Air Follower CR )

MODERATOR / COOLANT • Light water (Demineralised)

RTP Operation and Maintenance

Normal operation
6 hrs/day, 4 days/week

Periodic reactor inspection and maintenance

Two scheduled activities:

Semi Annual Inspection and Annual Inspection and

Maintenance Maintenance
(Midyear) (Year end)

Unscheduled activities
 Fuel Integrity Inspection

Cherenkov Effect during

Reactor Operation

Beam Port Leak Inspection

Unloading irradiated samples

 PUSPATI TRIGA Operation

950 450 450 580

How the reactor is operated?

Neutron Source (AmBe)
Fuel Element
Four control rods, namely
Transient, Safety, Shim and
Regulating will be drawn up
from the reactor core

TRAN SAFE SHIM REG

 Operational History
RTP Operational
History No of Irradiated Fuel
• 92 fuel for 8.5 wgt %, 6 fresh fuel
Fully 8.5 • 20 fuel for 12 wgt %, 0 fresh fuel >2010s
wgt % FE • 10 fuel for 20 wgt %, 1 fresh fuel

~1980’s
CORE 14 24 Mac 09 – 1 Feb 13
CORE 15 Mac 2013 - NOW

CORE 0 28 Jun 82 – 1 July 82 ~2000’s

CORE 1 7 July 82 – 30 Nov 85
CORE 2 16 Dec 85 – 12 Jun 87
CORE 3 20 Jun 87 – 13 May 88
CORE 10 21 Jul 94 – 19 Jul 01
CORE 4 23 May 88 – 9 Dec 89
CORE 11 23 Aug 01 – 25 May 06
CORE 5 ~1990’s CORE 12 5 Jul 06 – 18 Jul 07
CORE 13 14 Sep 07 – 15 Aug 08

CORE 6 6 Jan 90 – 11 Jun 91 Introduction of

Introduction of CORE 7 20 Jun 91 – 30 Nov 91
CORE 8 3 Jan 92 – 3 Jul 93 20 wgt % FE
12 wgt % FE
CORE 9 15 Sep 93 – 18 Jun 94
 RTP Operational Data
2001 - 2013

Record in Log Book and archive using

ANADATA
Source : RTP Annual Report 2013
Reactor Core
Core Configuration
10 Fuel
15 Fuel
83 Fuel
10 Dummy
3 FFCR
1 AFCR
5 EF

Source : Safety Analysis Report 2014

Standard TRIGA Fuel
Characteristic of RTP fuel
Parameter Nominal Value

Thickness, inch (cm)

Fuel element (fuel meat and cladding 1.47 (3.73)

Fuel meat (U-ZrH1.6 ) & Zr Rod 1.43 (3.63)

Cladding (SS304) 0.02 (0.051)

Cross section area, inch2 (cm2)

Water flow 0.83 (5.38)
Length, inch (cm)
Total fuel element 29.6 (75.26)
Active height (fuelled part) 15.0 (38.1)
Top graphite section 2.6 (6.5)
Bottom graphite section 3.7 (9.45)
Nominal U content
Weight, g 8.5 wt % 190
12 wt % 275
20 wt % 495
U-235 content
Enrichment, % 20
Weight, g 8.5 wt % 40
12 wt % 55
20 wt % 100

Source : Safety Analysis Report 2014

 FE weight content
Each fuel element have a specific amount of U-235

8.5 wt %

12 wt %

20 wt %

Source : Physical Inventory Listing of RTP

 INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL

Functions:
 for monitoring and display reactor parameters such as; neutron flux or reactor
power, bulk water temperature, rate of power , chart copy of power recording

 for protecting the reactor from abnormal circumstances that could result accidents

 for controlling the reactor power by withdrawal and positioning the control rods,
maintaining and regulating the reactor power ‘set ‘ value
Removal of old reactor Installation of new console Inspection and testing
console
 Area Radiation Monitoring
 Area radiation monitoring instrument (ARM) also known as a survey
meter, acts to measure radiation level of the surrounding area
where are they located.
 Located at several strategic places where the probability of radiation
released is higher.

Reactor Hall Control Room Pneumatic Room Basement

 It is designed with alarms (audio and visual), as an additional

protection system. If unwanted radiation level detected, the alarm
will be triggered automatically.
Location Pre-Alarm (Roentgen) Alarm (Roentgen)
Reactor Beam Ports 0.500 mR/Hour 1.000 mR/Hour
Reactor Pool Top 500.000 mR/Hour 1000 .000 mR/Hour
Reactor Control Room 0.500 mR/Hour 1.000 mR/Hour
Pneumatic Room 0.500 mR/Hour 1.000 mR/Hour
Basement (Cooling system) 10.000 mR/Hour 20.000 mR/Hour
1R=0.11933Sv
OTHER SYSTEM
water purification system
cooling system

ventilation system
 RTP UTILIZATION

IRRADIATION FACILITY
Central Thimble

Near-
Core In-Core
Beam Port 4 - SANS

Pneumatic Transfer
System

Dry Tube

Delay Neutron
Activation

Beam Port 3 - Neutron Rotary Rack Thermal Column

Radiography
 RTP UTILIZATION (cont)

Figure 1: Number of Irradiation Application and Irradiated Samples, 2013

RR: Rotary Rack

PTS: Pneumatic
Transfer System

NuR2 : Neutron
Radiography

SANS : Small Angle

Neutron Scattering

TC : Thermal Column

IC : In Core
 Reactor Visit

 RTP receives visitors from many organization such academic

institution, private sector as well as public sector personnel.
 This is including students, lecturers, researchers and any interested
parties.
 The procedure for the visit is, the visitors (outsider) must have the
permission or go through Corporate Communication Unit (UKK) for
the arrangement.

 Important information briefed before enter the reactor hall;

 Heath; health condition, dose monitoring device, dose limit etc
 Safety and security; Emergency exit, physical monitoring, alarms etc.
 Don’t and do
• Prohibited items such as camera, loose items, appearances, keep-
in group, etc.
Facility Walkthrough & Reactor Checklist
 Conclusion

1 RTP is the only Research Reactor in Malaysia and has

been safely operated since 1982

2 RTP receives students and visitors including for:

- Facility walkthrough and plant familiarization

- Conduct experiment
- Attachment / practical
- final year project
- etc
LOGO