The High Flux Reactor (HFR)
The high flux reactor in Petten has been in use since 1961. The first criticality was obtained the November 9th, 1961. The reactor was furnished by Allis-Chalmers.
Its capacity was increased in steps to 45 MW (thermal) by 1970. The HFR is property of the European Commission and is operated by the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG).
The life span of the current HFR will end around 2015. It has already been decided that a new HFR (Pallas) will be constructed to start operating by this time.
From August 2008 the HFR was shut down due to corrosion of the pipes in its primary cooling circuit. The operator is expecting to bring the plant back on-line in February 2009.
Read more about this topic: Petten Nuclear Reactor
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