The Chinese built Miniature Neutron Source reactor (MNSR) is a small and compact research reactor modeled on the Canadian HEU SLOWPOKE-2 design.
The MNSR is tank-in-pool type, with highly enriched fuel (~ 90% U235 ). The tank is immersed in a large pool, and the core is, in turn, immersed in the tank. The maximum nominal power is ~ 30 kW, the power being removed by natural convection. The central core is formed of about 347 fuel rods, with 4 tie rods and 3 dummy elements distributed on a total of ten circles, each consisting of a number of fuel rods ranging between 6 and 62. A thick beryllium reflector (~ 10 cm) surrounds the core radially.
China operates three MNSRs and has supplied Ghana, Iran, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria with reactors of this type as well as the highly enriched uranium (HEU) to fuel them. Since 1978, various national and international activities have been underway to convert research and test reactors from the use of HEU to LEU fuel.
List of all MNSR reactors built around the world Research centers that operate or have previously operated an MNSR: Reactor NameCountryCityInstitutionStatusEnrichment Operation DateClosure DateNotesMNSR IAEChinaBeijingChina Institute of Atomic EnergyOperational12.5%, LEU1984Converted to LEU in 2016.In-Hospital Neutron Irradiator-Mark 1 (IHNI-1)ChinaBeijingBeijing Capture Technology Co. Ltd (BCTC)Operational12.5%, LEU2009MNSR-SDChinaJinanShandong University of Science and TechnologyPermanent Shutdown90%, HEU1988 2010MNSR-SHChinaShanghaiShanghai Institute of Measurement And Testing TechnologyPermanent Shutdown90%, HEU19912008MNSR-SZChinaShenzhenShenzhen UniversityOperational90%, HEU1988Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1)GhanaAccraGhana Atomic Energy CommissionOperational13%, LEU1994Converted to LEU in 2017.ENTC MNSRIranIsfahanIsfahan Nuclear Technology/Research CenterOperational90%, HEU1994Nigeria research reactor-1 (NIRR-1)NigeriaZariaCentre for Energy Research and Training (CERT)Operational13%, LEU2004Converted to LEU in 2018.PARR-IIPakistanIslamabadPakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & TechnologyOperational90.2%, HEU1989SRR-1SyriaDamascusAtomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS)Permanenet shutdown90%, HEU19982011
References
See also Swimming pool reactor Nuclear reactor Nuclear power Nuclear fission Nuclear power plant Nuclear proliferation