The Australians have reached a milestone in the inauguration of a new research reactor needed to produce radioisotopes for medical purposes. The Reactor reached full temperature and produced 20MW (thermal).
AT 11.45am yesterday, Australia's new nuclear research reactor reached its full operating power for the first time.
The Open Pool Australian Light-water reactor generated 20 megawatts of thermal power (heat) — twice the power of the ageing High Flux Australian Reactor it was built to replace.
"This is a milestone because it means we are a step closer to the full commissioning of the reactor," Ian Smith, executive director of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation in Sydney, said yesterday.
In the next few weeks, OPAL should be ready to crank out radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear medicine and neutrons for research. HIFAR will then be shut down, after nearly 50 years of operation.
Here's the Australian government's website on the OPAL project for those who have an interest in these things. This reactor use low enrichment uranium fuel.
