Photos: An inside look at ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor
Image 1 of 10
The HFIR control room
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.
Bio-SANS
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.
HFIR reactor pool
HFIR reactor pool
Scientists work on removing an HFIR fuel element from the reactor pool.
HFIR refueling
HFIR refueling
In July 2015, the HFIR was refueled. On average, a fuel cycle for the HFIR will last for about 26 days.
Another shot of the reactor pool
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.
Equipment maintenance
Equipment maintenance
ORNL’s Matt Collins works on neutron scattering equipment for SANS research.
The HFIR's flux trap
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.
Research preparation
Research preparation
Christophe Higy and Philipp Gutfreund from the Institut Laue-Langevin prepare a research sample for the HFIR.
IMAGINE diffractometer
IMAGINE diffractometer
IMAGINE is a neutron image-plate single crystal diffractometer. A diffractometer measures structure and scattering on a material when it is irradiated.
Preparing IMAGINE
Preparing IMAGINE
Flora Meilleur places an organic molecule crystal on the sample holder in the IMAGINE diffractometer.
