Title: Strength verification and design enhancement of the NUR nuclear research reactor cooling system

Authors: Mohamed Azzoune; Mourad Dougdag; Nacim Mellel; Nabil Barbeche

Addresses: Nuclear Research Centre of Draria, CRND/COMENA, Draria, Algeria ' Birine Nuclear Research Centre, PB 180, Ain Oussera, Djelfa, Algeria ' Birine Nuclear Research Centre, PB 180, Ain Oussera, Djelfa, Algeria ' Birine Nuclear Research Centre, PB 180, Ain Oussera, Djelfa, Algeria

Abstract: The NUR Nuclear Research Reactor (NRR) is a 1 MW MTR/LEU-fuelled, light-water moderated and cooled graphite-reflected, open-pool-type. The nominal power (1 MW) has been identified as insufficient power to meet certain nuclear application requirements. Therefore, a reactor upgrading project has been launched to modify the reactor core and the cooling system configuration in order to increase its irradiation capacity. In this paper, a review of the redesign works and vibration tests carried out on the cooling system with a new primary pump and a new heat exchanger are exclusively presented. These tests were performed on the existing cooling system to ensure that the system is capable of receiving and supporting the new equipment before beginning the numerical design of the new cooling system. The results of the feasibility tests were generally acceptable and demonstrated the ability of the actual primary circuit to support further changes while meeting safety and reliability standards. The first design proposal for the primary cooling system was reconsidered due to safety and reliability criteria. Finally, a proposal was made which consists of improving the performance of the primary pump and the secondary cooling circuit.

Keywords: nuclear engineering; NUR reactor primary cooling; stress analysis; modal analysis; numerical verification; safety and reliability criteria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2024.147521

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2024 Vol.17 No.4, pp.217 - 241

Received: 12 Nov 2023
Accepted: 06 Dec 2024
Published online: 20 Jul 2025 *

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