The High Flux Isotope Reactor

The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), now being constructed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was designed for almost the single purpose of transmuting elements at the highest possible rate consistent with reasonable extrapolations of proven technology. The reactor is of the fluxtrap type, with a cylindrical core. It is light-water cooled and beryllium reflected. At the design power of 100 Mw the reactor will produce a calculated unperturbed neutron flux of 5 × 10¹⁵ neutrons/cm², sec in the target region. A target of 300 gm of Pu²⁴² for the production of transplutonium elements will reduce this flux to 2 or 3 × 10¹⁵.