Innovation

Photos: An inside look at ORNL's High Flux Isotope Reactor

By // October 12, 2015, 5:00 AM PST // connerforrest

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  • The HFIR control room

    The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), a nuclear research reactor from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, produces neutrons used in a variety of scientific research. Here's a quick tour.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • Bio-SANS

    This equipment is used as part of the Biological Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (Bio-SANS) Instrument. Bio-SANS is one of the foundational technologies for work done as part of ORNL's Center for Structural Molecular Biology.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • HFIR reactor pool

    Scientists work on removing an HFIR fuel element from the reactor pool.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • HFIR refueling

    In July 2015, the HFIR was refueled. On average, a fuel cycle for the HFIR will last for about 26 days.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • Another shot of the reactor pool

    The tubes are storage canals for fuel elements. Spent fuel glow blue because of Cherenkov radiation, which causes electrons to move through the pool's water faster than the speed of light.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • Equipment maintenance

    ORNL's Matt Collins works on neutron scattering equipment for SANS research.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • The HFIR's flux trap

    At the center of the reactor's fuel element, you'll find the flux trap. Target materials are irradiated in this area of the reactor.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • Research preparation

    Christophe Higy and Philipp Gutfreund from the Institut Laue-Langevin prepare a research sample for the HFIR.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • IMAGINE diffractometer

    IMAGINE is a neutron image-plate single crystal diffractometer. A diffractometer measures structure and scattering on a material when it is irradiated.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

  • Preparing IMAGINE

    Flora Meilleur places an organic molecule crystal on the sample holder in the IMAGINE diffractometer.

    Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

The HFIR control room

The High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), a nuclear research reactor from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, produces neutrons used in a variety of scientific research. Here's a quick tour.

Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

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About Conner Forrest

Conner Forrest is a Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He covers enterprise technology and is interested in the convergence of tech and culture.