Highlights of IRPA 14 The SAFARI VISIT Nick

Highlights of IRPA 14 The SAFARI VISIT Nick Sion 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 1

Not This Safari 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 2

But This SAFARI {South African Fundamental Atomic Research Installation } 2021 -06 -18 Courtesy Dr. D. L. Tillwick SAFARI Manager, NECSA Nuclear Energy Corporation South Africa IRPA 14 Highlights 3

Location 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 4

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The Complex Owned and operated by NECSA Nuclear Energy Corp. South Africa 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 6

Approaching the NECSA complex 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 7

2021 -06 -18 Main Gate the Reactor IRPA 14 to Highlights 8

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2021 -06 -18 Contaminated Waste IRPA 14 Highlights 10

NECSA Emergency Centre 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 11

Emergency Vehicles On Site 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 12

With Christie Bester in the Isotope Production Facility 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 13

DESCRIPTION Ø 20 MW light water tank in pool reactor, capable to 30 MW with a 3 m high reactor core Ø Commissioned in 1965 under the Atoms for Peace program Ø Reactor is needed till early 2020 s for isotope production but the intent is to run it to 2030 Ø HEU fuel conversion to LEU begun around 2004 and was completed some 3 years later. Ø A Dedicated Isotope Production Reactor (DIPR) is due in early 2020 s, and SAFARI becomes a back-up or for R&D. Ø DIPR design is upgraded to be a Multi-Purpose Reactor for neutron beam application 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 14

DESCRIPTION (continued) Ø QA is to ISO 9001 and to 14001 Ø NECSA (Nuclear Energy Corp. South Africa) has shipped Mo 99 to Canada Ø Conversion to LEU uses silicide fuel and results in 19% enrichment Ø Conversion was completed in 2009 Ø Some Si converted into P for cell phone chips Ø Operates 5 weeks at full power followed by 3 -5 days outage for reload and maintenance 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 15

FUEL CONVERSION FROM Highly Enriched Uranium HEU Low Enriched Uranium LEU (weapons grade 70 -90% 235 U by weight) TO (non proliferation standard <20% 235 U) Ø Method based on Oak Ridge reactor Ø SAFARI used HEU 45% and/or 93% enrichment from inventory as U-Alx (Uranium aluminide where x= 2, 3, or 4). Ø Conversion was to Uranium Silicide U 2 Si-Alx Ø Loss in operational efficiency was ~ -8% in the fast to thermal flux ratios --- minimal effect. Ø Target plates for 99 Mo production were from 45% inventory Ø Uranium density became 4. 8 gm/cm 3 from 9. 1 gm/cm 3 maintaining same geometrical profile NOTE: A typical 2 MW research reactor using 20% enriched Uranium can produce 10 gm of Plutonium !!! 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights Courtesy of IAEA Bulletin Vol. 25 #116

Isotopes Generated Isotope Application Iridium 192 Industrial non-destructive testing Cesium 137 Iodine 125, Iodine 131 Radiation therapy. Calibration of radiation monitors Prostate & brain (brachytherapy), Thyroid Co-60 Steel Molybdenum/Technetium Cancer locations Lutetium 177 Endoctrine tumours, Prostate 2021 -06 -18 And NECSA has IRPA 14 Highlights an impressive array of hot cells 17

NECSA also uses Nordion for distribution Novateep brand are used for Tc 99 m Generators WE CAN DO IT TOO !!! If our message is relayed to our higher authority ……. . 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 18

Premier of Ont. Hon. K. Wynne 2021 -06 -18 Lib. MP Rob Oliphant Federal IRPA 14 Highlights 19

Thank You for your attention 2021 -06 -18 IRPA 14 Highlights 20