The HFIR
Facility
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High Flux Isotope Reactor Site
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At 85 MW, the ORNL High Flux Isotope Reactor is the highest flux reactor-based source of neutrons for condensed matter research in the United States, and it provides one of the highest steady-state neutron fluxes of any research reactor in the world. The thermal and cold neutrons produced by HFIR are used to study physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, and biology. The intense neutron flux, constant power density, and constant-length fuel cycles are used by more than 200 researchers each year for neutron scattering research into the fundamental properties of condensed matter.
The neutron scattering research facilities at HFIR contain a world-class collection of instruments used for fundamental and applied research on the structure and dynamics of matter. The reactor is also used for medical, industrial, and research isotope production; research on severe neutron damage to materials; and neutron activation to examine trace elements in the environment.
Reactor operations are currently scheduled to provide 132 days of full- power steady-state neutron beams in fiscal 2007 to provide HFIR neutron scattering users access to thermal and cold neutron beams of world-class brightness. Availability is projected to increase over the next few years to provide 176 days of full- power steady-state neutron beams per year.
With projected regular operations, the next major shutdown for a beryllium reflector replacement will not be necessary until after 2020. This outage provides an opportunity to install a cold source in radial beam tube HB-2, which would provide an unparalleled flux of cold neutrons feeding instruments in a new guide hall. With or without this additional capability, HFIR is projected to continue operation through 2040 and beyond.
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