Access

"Access" refers to the legitimate and authorised physical, remote and virtual admission to, interactions with and use of CVR RI and to services offered by CVR RI to Users. Such Access can be granted, amongst others, to:

• Preparation, execution, data processing and/or assessment of the proposed experiment including dismantling by the laboratory which harbours the research technology
• Machine time
• Preparatory facilities and their services if they are part of the RI
• Education and training
• Expert support
• Analytical services

Access Unit

Access Unit is define as the smallest time unit for Access. It is based on the time consumed by the research technology and teams used for the experiment and it includs technology preparation and other neccessary activities connected to the experimental work. Access unit definition and number of access units per year are defined for each technology individualy.

Access Policy

The access in the mode of "Open Access" to the research infrastructure is granted for all interest parties fulfilling the definition of a User who are capable to prove: scientific excellence, originality, quality, technical and ethical feasibility of an application evaluated through peer review conducted by the internal experts and the CVR Scientific Council (SciC) and acceptation of the Open Access contract conditions.

Priority will be given to the applications which:

• May prove a crucial impact to the development of peaceful applications of nuclear technologies
• May prove that their results will support the strategic research agendas defined in the Czech and/or European priority research agendas
• Are increasing the efficiency of utilization of the requested research technology
• Are of pre-commercial nature
• Utilize the complexity of the research infrastructure

Applications may be refused if they:

• are clearly outside the scope of the RI
• are not fulfilling legal requirements of the Czech Republic
• may create an unaccepted risk towards the public safety or towards the environment
• may lead to a damage of the RI
• aim to results for the non-peaceful applications

If successful in the evaluation process, the applicant will be granted by the adequate access units (may be corrected by internal experts or SciC). If accepted by the applicant, the utilization will be planned in the research technology plan.

The applications may be submitted any time. CVR grants the evaluation of an application to be finalized within 3 months after which period the applicant will be announced by the approval / refusal decision. If refused, the applicant may appeal to the managing Director of CVR who may decide to ask for an additional expert review of the submission and evaluation process. If an independent external expert is involved, the cost for such an assessment will be transfered to the applicant.

Access Processes & Interactions

The access process consists of steps:

1. Based on access rules and restrictions all who are eligible to submit a proposal for research to be executed at particular research technology as a part of the research infrastructure are encouraged to do so any time. The application form is available on the web pages.
2. The application is pre-assessed by the CVR administrative personnel for formal completeness. If needed, the applicant will be asked to complete the absenting information or details needed for further evaluation.
3. After the application fulfils all required formal information, a person responsible for the requested technology starts the evaluation process by individual review of the research intentions, goals and needs for support. After clarifications, the application is submitted to the internal expert for a thorough assessment.
4. The internal expert evaluates the application and prepares a report for the Scientific Council decision by e-mail and regular mail.
5. The Council recommends to the CVR Managing Director the decision. The Scientific Director of CVR announces the decision to the applicant.
6. If negative, the applicant may appeal to the Managing Director of CVR within 2 weeks after the decision was announced by the e-mail. The MD invites and external expert to review the assessment process. Based on his/her recommendation, the MD decides and the decision is immediately sent to the applicant. The appeal process should not last more than 1 month.
7. If the application was approved, the applicant is announced by the proposed period of the RI use, including other conditions (quality and safety requests, fees, expected level of cooperation from the applicant etc.). The feasibility check is organized by the CVR.
8. After the successful finalization of the open access case, both CVR and the applicant will evaluate the cooperation.
9. Any logistics support is solely the applicant’s responsibility. However, CVR will be for support if feasible, particularly if any cooperation is needed towards the formal processes (visas, confirmations for the authorities etc.).

Transparency

All information needed for a successful application for the research infrastructure are available by:

• Internet pages access.cvrez.cz
• Opportunity to send a query to the CVR at address: research.infrastructure@cvrez.cz

Information will be provided on the available equipment, costs, fees, contractual obligations, health safety and environment rules and procedures, intellectual property rights and the legal settlement of disputes.

Access Restrictions and Capacity for the Open Access

Particular research technologies may be subjects of restrictions due to mainly reasons (not exclusive list):

• training and education provided with the use of the concerned technology;
• ongoing research programmes;
• ethics;
• legal and contractual obligations;
• financial contributions.

Regulatory framework

The access is determined by acceptance of a contract (attachment) which regulates all important aspects of the cooperation between the applicant and CVR.

Health, safety, security and environment

CVR will undertake the necessary actions, including instruction, to ensure the health, security and safety of any User accessing the Research Infrastructure as well as to minimise the impact on the environment. The User must comply with all safety and environment related rules of CVR. Without introductory safety training, no member of the applicant’s team will be allowed to enter to the RI premises. Not complying with the requested rules may lead to the cancelation of the open access.

Limitations

Access to Research Infrastructures may be limited, amongst others, by the following:

• national security and defence;

• privacy and confidentiality;

• commercial sensitivity and intellectual property rights;

• ethical considerations in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.


Evaluation Criteria

Exclusive criteria:

• Are the applicant references available indicating the project success potential?
• Is the project technically feasible? (this aspect should be pre-evaluated by the infrastructure manager and submitted to the committee as the application supplement)

Application assessment:

Is the project clearly defined including the goals and methods to be used?

• 0... Project defined vagualy, no clear goals set up
• 1... Goals set up but some ambiguality present, methods unclear
• 2... Goals and methods clearly defined, project not well structured into milestones
• 3... Project well defined in all aspects

What is the scientific impact of the project?

• Is there a potential that the project results be published in a high impact journal or conference?
• 0... None
• 1... Low, unrealistic
• 2...Likely
• 3... Very high
• Is there a potential that the project lead to a patent or other applied result?
• 0... None
• 1... Low, unrealistic
• 2...Likely
• 3... Very high
• Does the project have a future research potential?
• 0... None
• 1... Low, unrealistic
• 2...Likely
• 3... Very high

Does the project lead to an expert networking and knowledge transfer?

• Number of UG/PhD students involved
• Number divided by 5

Application Forms

Form download ENG

Form download CZ

• Company Name
• Contact person
• Work position
• Phone number
• E-mail
• Address
• Country
• Website

• Project name
• Project acronym (will be used for identification)
• Start date of project
• End date of project
• Project partners

• Overview:
• Short review of the project (50-100 words)
• Purpose and Need
• Describe the background for the project
• Goals:
• Describe main project goals
• Schedule:
• Provide a preliminary time schedule for the project and the timeframe for demanding infrastructure
• Outputs and Results:
• Is there a potential that the project results will be published in a high impact journal or conference?
• Is there a potential that the project will lead to a patent?
• Partners:
• Describe participating parties. Is the project associated with a grant?
• Scientific impact of project:
• Does the project lead to an expert networking and knowledge transfer?

• Please write down specific devices which you need for the project (list of devices is available at Infrastructure Catalogue) and the expected usage of theiraccess units.
  (Project must be technically feasible).
• Other requirements (Example of requirements: CVR data access, confidentiality request, etc.)

Contract

Description of the Large Research Infrastructure Reactors Řež

Research reactors in Řež, the reactor LVR-15 and LR-0, are an essential infrastructure for neutron based applications in nuclear research. The research involves nuclear power technologies of Generation II, III/III+, IV as well as fusion technologies. Several applications are applicable in conventional power engineering, such as supercritical water or hydrogen technology.

The main areas of RI research focus may be classified according to the CEP classification as:

• BG Nuclear, atomic and molecular physics, accelerators
• JB Sensors, detectors, measurements and regulation
• JF Nuclear energy
• JK corrosion and surface material modification
• JL Material fatigue and fracture mechanics
• DB Geology and mineralogy

These CEP areas may be closer specified into a variety of technology areas:

• Material research including radiation embrittlement, corrosion, environmentally determined damages including irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking and development of measurement technologies related to material damage
• Neutron physics including neutron activation analysis, neutron scattering, neutronography or neutron diffraction
• Reactor physics including criticality experiments, reactor kinetics, mixed field spectroscopy and dosimetry or shielding experiments
• Radiation biology including BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) experiments
• Radioisotope production for health and industry applications
• Material transmutation including silicon doping for semiconductor industry
• Education and training of both students and stakeholders (sharing capacity and demand with VR-1 reactor in Prague, which is used solely for university students)
• Material research in terms of interactions between the neutrons, gamma radiation, cooling environment and mechanical load
• Thermal hydraulics
• Neutron physics including the neutron based material evaluation tools (diffraction, activation analysis, etc.)
• Development and testing of in-situ measurements in radiation fields
• Research of new radioisotopes for radiopharmaceutics
• Research of modern visualization methods (neutron diffraction, neutron radiography)
• Development of new materials including nanotechnologies
• Research of progressive nuclear medicine methods

The LR-0 reactor has a strong impact on research and innovation in the Czech Republic in the field of reactor physics. The reactor is a scientific and technological facility, which is used in the fields of reactor and neutron physics, dosimetry, NPP surveillance and education and trainings. The LR-0 is also a partner for international cooperation under IAEA CRP programmes, OECD/NEA activities and Czech-American cooperation on molten salt reactors.

The LVR-15 reactor is a 10 MW neutron source crucial for R&D in the field of material research, radiation biology and radioisotope production. The mission of the reactor is to provide an experimental basis for material research and to serve to public health by research activities on the BNCT and by research and commercial activities focused on production of medical applicable radioisotopes.

Experimental loops and rigs operated both in-pile and out-of-pile, provide a technological platform for R&D support of currently operated and freshly developed GEN II to GEN IV reactors and fusion devices as well as for non-nuclear applications. Their impact is significant for operation safety through research in the field of material degradation, cooling media chemistry, assessment of thermo-hydraulic conditions.

Research laboratories (Gamma-spectrometry lab, Neutron measurements and spectrometry lab, Hot cells) provide technologies located in RI with the necessary research background in terms of measurements, validation procedures and samples handling.

Description of the Large Research Infrastructure Sustainable Energy (SUSEN)

The central and integrating subject of the SUSEN RI is energy, particularly nuclear energy, and its closely related fields. The RI has been developed on four fundamental concepts represented by the following Research Programmes (divided further into specific Research Actions):

1. Technological Experimental Circuits
2. Structural and System Diagnostics
3. Nuclear Fuel Cycle
4. Material Research

The RI supports energy research, materials and components research, including diagnostics during manufacture, construction and operation of energy equipment (predicting reliable operation and remaining service life), and research of disposal and safe storage methods of energy carriers. The RI also supports research and development into Generation IV nuclear reactors and fusion reactors. In these reactors, the heat transfer is performed by different media. There is a lack of information about their behaviour, especially on their effects on construction materials and their thermo-dynamic and thermo-hydraulic characteristics, the manufacturing technologies are unknown, crucial components are not existing yet, etc. The experimental data gained in RI will contribute to expansion of existing knowledge, particularly in relation to the parameters that may be used to improve computer codes, material characteristics databases up to the levels needed for the development of new reactor generation.

The Technological Experimental Circuits (TEO) part of the RI is also linked to the "Nuclear Fuel Cycle" (NFC) programme through the development of materials for fuel claddings and the use of analytical facilities for studying material surfaces, especially the SIMS facility. The knowledge built up by the researchers of the Material Research programme will be used to both better understanding as well as design of materials for technological experimental circuits. Material research for high-temperature reactors is further considered within the TEO programme. This research will be executed on circulating helium loops situated in a reactor in future. That set up will enable in situ tests of helium environment as chemical agent, as well as radiation and high temperatures. By using the reactor LVR-15 for material irradiation in fast neutron flux (<0.1 MeV), 5x10¹³ - 1x10¹⁴ n·s^-1·cm^-2 can be reached.

The RI will enable research for in media:

• Supercritical water - supercritical light-water reactor media primary circuit (SCWR);
• Helium - primary circuit of a (very) high-temperature reactor (V/HTR);
• Helium/pressurized water - the first wall of a fusion reactor cooling medium;
• Supercritical carbon dioxide – potential medium of the secondary circuit of heat transfer from the primary circuit of the Gen IV reactor and energy conversion;
• Lead or Lead Bismuth coolants for fast neutron reactor systems (LFR and Myrrha);

The analytical RIs of the "Structural and System Diagnostics" research programme will be used to evaluate samples of materials exposed in the designed facilities. Within the experimental facilities of this programme, the developed diagnostic methods and hot chambers can be used to evaluate irradiated material and fuel samples after operation in. That will include, as an example, usage of TEM and SEM facilities as well as other facilities and methods from the Structural and System Diagnostic programme.

The research infrastructure of Structural and System Diagnostics (SSD) is by principal topics focused on the structural and system diagnostics of nuclear power plants. It primarily supports studies to increase safety and long term operation of the current generation Gen II NPP service. The medium to long-term goals relate to the SSD of NPP Gen III and Gen IV, which are already subject to quite different functionality and reliability requirements for diagnostic systems.

The objective of the NFC RI is to support nuclear fuel cycle, radioactive waste management (RWM), including storage facilities and analytical support of these processes, including activities to support the non-proliferation programmes and analyses of environmental impact.

Laboratory for the geological disposal of radioactive waste will be built for anaerobic corrosion tests of construction materials for spent nuclear fuel storage containers. It will be equipped by the state of the art anaerobic glove boxes to secure anaerobic conditions during the experiments.

The basic objective of the Material research (MAT) RI is to build a regionally unique infrastructure, which will be equipped by top devices and highly qualified service staff that can solve in flexible and comprehensive way issues of structure of materials exposed to degradation changes during exploitation in demanding conditions caused by combination of high temperature, static and cyclic stress and a corrosive environment. Workplace activities will involve basic research into metal materials characteristics, but the results will be applicable in the current and future power generation industry.

The aim of RI is primarily pointed out to the strategic energy research and development in the Czech Republic including intensifying the international cooperation. The important goal is to create proper infrastructure to support cooperation and communication between stakeholders in research, development and demonstration of new energy technologies. The purpose of connection to these activities and the resulting framework of European industrial initiatives is to strengthen the innovation capability and productivity of the industry in the Czech Republic including subsequent influence on the export potential and competitiveness of the country in the area of power generation technologies. A non-negligible output will be securing knowledge and human resources for future power generation technologies development, research and education. The importance of RI is to support research, development and demonstration of promising technologies that significantly contribute to achieving the objectives of European energy policy to 2020 and prospectively to 2050. The SUSEN RI will contribute to the implementation of the SET – plan. The uniqueness of the SUSEN RI is in:

• Its direct connection with the Reactors in Řež RI.
• Its interconnection with the future capacity of the Jules Horowitz Reactor
• In setting up a unique combination of local staff experience, its networking with the international community and the new technology for research in the perspective area of power generation.
• The capability to support activities related to ALLEGRO and ALFRED reactors

CVR partnered with other relevant technology platforms and associations in the Czech Republic and with the European Technology Platforms.

An integral part of the activities is also in in co-operation with the relevant government authorities including communication with the public.

The present RI aims to support the implementation of strategic management research and development in the generation and to focus on the priority needs of energy and industry, with positive effects on maintaining and strengthening the competitiveness of the energy industry and the involvement of Czech manufacturing companies in the supply chain of new technologies. The need for substantial improvement of the organization and management of research and development in the energy sector has also been formulated in the context of the review of the energy policy of the Czech Republic carried out by OECD IEA.

SUSEN RI is and will be unique in the Czech Republic. Its importance is for the safe operation of current reactors and for the development of future technologies – GEN IV, fusion (ITER, DEMO) and renewable technologies. SUSEN RI enables the implementation of the SET – plan in the Czech Republic.

There is a direct cooperation with universities by means of the Council for Cooperation with Universities which meets once a year with CVŘ representatives. The agreements of cooperation are concluded with several faculties. The subject of cooperation may be seen for example in defining topics for master and doctoral theses, calling the competitions of master and doctoral theses which end up by financial awards. Employees give lectures at universities, students work at their master and doctoral theses at CVŘ, and now at SUSEN RI with experts being supervisors of theses. For the purposes of the SUSEN RI, relevant contacts with representatives of universities are being used and the cooperation will continue.

Description of the Large Research Infrastructure Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR)

The Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR) is a new Material Testing Reactor currently under construction at CEA Cadarache research centre in the south of France. It will represent a major Research Infrastructure for scientific studies dealing with material and fuel behaviour under irradiation (and is consequently identified for this purpose within various European road maps and forums; ESFRI, SNE-TP…). The reactor will also be devoted to medical isotopes production. The reactor will perform R&D programs for the optimization of the present generation of NPP, support the development of the next generation of NPP (mainly LWR) and also offer irradiation capacities for future reactors. JHR is designed, built and will be operated as an international user-facility open to international collaboration. In order to comply with the evolution of safety requirements and to guarantee long term operations, the construction safety standards of JHR have been significantly improved compared to MTRs built in the 60s.

JHR as a material testing reactor for the current generation of power reactor is constructed to support operation of existing nuclear reactors and qualification of future technologies systems. It will allow to test materials in the conditions of power reactors, to speed up the modelling of the operating degradation of materials and to evaluate the end of life properties of structures and components. The fuel testing facilities related to the JHR will allow to increase the inherent safety including modelling the response of fuel and materials under the normal and accidental conditions. The non-power applications will cover development of new techniques for medicine, industrial applications and others.

In the first place consortium members are interested to address problems which can be solved at JHR: CIEMAT (Spain); SCK (Belgium); ÚJV Řež (Czech Republic); VTT (Finland); the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) (France); IAEC (Israel); DAE (India); JAEA (Japan); NNL (United Kingdom), “Electricité de France” (EDF); AREVA; VATTENFALL, the European Commission. The IAEA is focusing to the JHR as well as the future tool supporting the reactors lifetime management via research work.

The partners in the consortium are users of the facility. In addition to this, universities in Europe teaching nuclear fission energy related study programmes will also be users of the facility.

JHR and the Czech participation in it provides the Czech researchers an opportunity to carry out experiments on the best available instrument in NPP material and nuclear fuel related areas in the European Union available. In the same time the Reactors in Řež will be a regional partner facility to the JHR.

The JHR consortium offers a wide international cooperation on European projects as a big opportunity for Czech junior professionals to expand their knowledge and experience including the hands on experience.

JHR is currently under construction. The start of operation is expected in 2019 and the use for the research in 2020. By that time, JHR will be a major infrastructure of European interest in the fission domain, open to the international collaboration. It is constructed and will be operated in the framework of an international cooperation between several organizations bound by a Consortium Agreement. Under Euratom there will be a call open for transnational/open access to JHR.

The 11th bilateral agreement has been signed on 12th March 2013 with the United Kingdom. Up to now, the present partners are as follows:

• Research Institutes: CIEMAT (Spain); SCK (Belgium); ÚJV Řež (Czech Republic); VTT (Finland); the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) (France); IAEC (Israel); DAE (India); JAEA (Japan); NNL (United Kingdom)
• Utilities and Industrial Partners: “Electricité de France” (EDF); AREVA; VATTENFALL
• The European Commission

CEA as owner and an operator is responsible for the facility. Consortium members are owners of access and voting rights based on their contribution on the JHR project. Every member of the consortium may use the rights either for a private testing programme or for the participation on shared international programme. No new members are accepted after the JHR is finalized.

Design options for the JHR reactor allow for the following capabilities in terms of irradiation experiments:

• Fuel:
• New selection and characterisation;
• Scenario to test the behaviour of fuel subjected to power transients.
• Evaluation of fuel in normal, beyond-design and accidental conditions. particularly according the needs put on the fuel testing in the context of Fukushima accident.
• Materials:
• Clad corrosion studies in order to increase the fuel Burn Up,  High dose rate on clad and structural materials.
• Medical applications:
• Radioactive isotopes for medical applications.
• Nuclear waste management:
• Studies on radioactive waste (actinide transmutation).
• Fusion reactors:
• Support for irradiations.
• Miscellaneous:
• Studies on nuclear instrumentation.

CEA is a driver and promoter of JHR Project as the leading member of the JHR Consortium. The material research reactor JHR will become in 2021 a unique facility in Europe to test materials and components under normal operating conditions and accidental operating conditions of nuclear reactors. The reactor of 100 MW power will allow simulating the end of the life conditions for many reactor components and will enable complex of nuclear fuel testing under standard and severe accident conditions.

The design of the facility is performed according to the latest safety regulation requirements ensuring the quality and the safety of the experiments. JHR integrates in the nuclear unit all necessary experimental equipment to carry out experimental irradiations, intermediate controls and associated examinations.

Technological opportunities related to the JHR and to the Czech portion of the future capacity:

• The operators are interested in increasing the burn up of the fuel, to decrease risk of fuel damage and to be ready for any new regulations which may be put on them by regulators in the post-Fukushima attempts to withstand the beyond design and severe accidents. JHR will operate with high thermal flux allowing to reach 600 W/cm in the reflector on 1% enriched LWR fuel pins.
• The operators may seek an independent assessment of fuel as a means of increased economy, efficiency and safety of their operation
• The material research reactor fleet worldwide is getting older, the majority is older than 40 years
• In 2021 when the JHR will be on full power, the capacities of material research reactors in Europe above 100 MW will be older than 50 years. The planned MBIR reactor in Russia, if finished that time, will be working in fast spectrum. Several studies are questioning the transferability of results from such irradiation conditions.
• JHR is a high performance and flexible reactor able to provide up to 16 dpa/year damages on materials.
• According to current worldwide industry needs, JHR will provide a modern experimental capability for studying materials and fuels behaviour under irradiation for applications such as:
• Support to nuclear power plants of generations II and III,  developments for future generations of reactors.
• Radio-isotopes production for medical applications.
• JHR will become the leading facility for research on fuel properties in normal and limit conditions, in the design accidents conditions (LOCA, RIA) and for severe accidents. The planned experiments cover for example burn up effect, fission gas release, the fuel-cladding interaction, chemical influences of coolants, creep etc. Tests will be performed under standard operating conditions, limit operation (like utilization of power effects, power increase) and design and beyond design accidents. They will be supporting changes of current burn up limits and will provide scientific justification of new criteria for fuel including new generation of fuel.

In 2021 JHR will be the only material research reactor in Europe with slow neutron flux higher than 5x10¹⁴ n·cm^-2·s^-1.

This create a huge opportunity for the direct support of development of Czech industry, specially supporting of the Czech:

• Power Plants operation and enhancing their safety, including nuclear and non-nuclear units.
• R&D Fusion community.