INTRODUCTION

The first nuclear research reactor in Poland was started in 1958 in the Institute of Nuclear Research at Świerk. Its name EWA was coined as the acronym for Experimental Water Atomic. The reactor furnished the basis for many new scientific and technological developments in Poland..

The neutron beams from the EWA reactor have been used for 30 years in studies of the structure of materials. Neutron diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering were the source of data on the structure as well as lattice dynamics. Radioactive isotopes produced by irradiation in the reactor core provided the basis for development of nuclear techniques: medical therapy and diagnosis, industrial applications and scientific research. The nuclear physics and engineering as well as nuclear electronics were developed in Poland thanks to the reactor EWA existence. The Institute of Nuclear Research was one of the well-known world’s nuclear centers. Polish physicts and engineers had modernized the reactor EWA enhancing its initial power from 2 MW to 10 MW. The EWA reactor had one of the longest records of safe exploitation of nuclear research reactors.

The construction of the second Polish nuclear research reactor MARIA was completed in 1974. It was named in memory of Maria Curie Skłodowska who won the Nobel price for discovery of radium and polonium. This multipurpose high-flux research reactor was designed by Polish engineers and physicists. The reactor was built mainly for material research important for design and service of nuclear power stations.

The research reactor MARIA is one of the best of European medium size nuclear research reactors. It has high in-core neutron flux density and high degree of core configuration versatility to fulfil various demands. It is relatively young and prepared to serve another twenty years as a valuable tool in nuclear techniques. The 25 kilometres distance separating the reactor MARIA from the nearest big city, Warsaw, is an advantage since it does not interfere in the development of the city infrastructures and allows easy access by common transportation means.

There are 8 nuclear research reactors in Europe with the thermal power exceeding 15 MW and neutron flux density exceeding 1014 cm-2s. The main parameters of these reactors are given in the Table below:

List of working European research reactors with thermal power exceeding 15 MW and the neutron flux density exceeding 1014 cm-2s.

COUNTRY

NAME

TYPE

POWER MW

Thermal neutrons. flux density cm-2s-1

Fast neutrons. flux density cm-2s-1

APPLICATIONS

OPERATION TIME hours per annum

BELGIUM

Br2 started 29.06.1960

pool

45

2.7 x 1014

4.6 10 14

Nuclear fuel testing, loop experiments, isotopes production, silicon doping

3 300

FRANCE

ILL started 08.09.1971

D2O

58

1.5 x 10 15

The world’s best research reactor Scientific research using neutron beams, materials research and scientific studies.

5 400

FRANCE

OSIRYS Started 08.09.1966

pool

70

2.7 x 10 14

2.0 x 10 14

Materials research, isotopes production, silicon doping, activation analysis.

6 100

NETHERLANDS

UFR started 09.11.1961

pool

45

2.7 x10 14

4.6 x10 14

Multipurpose high flux reactor Materials research, isotopes production, activation analysis, BNCT

6 700

POLAND

MARIA started 12.1974

pool

20 - 30

4 x 10 14

2 x 10 14

Isotopes production, neutron beams research, activation analysis.

3 300

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

SM-2 started 01.10.1961

pool

100

5 x 10 15

2 x 10 15

Loops for nuclear fuel testing, materials research, isotopes production

4 200

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

MIR started 01.12.1966

pool - channel

100

5 x 10 15

3 x 10 14

Nuclear fuel and materials research, isotopes production.

3 500

SWEDEN

R2 MTR started 20.06.1960

pool

50

4 x 10 14

4 x 10 14

Materials research, isotopes production, silicon doping, neutron beams research.

3 300

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