IR-40
Encyclopedia
IR-40 is an Iran
ian 40 megawatt (thermal) heavy water reactor
under construction in Arak
. While the basic design was completed in 2002, the IAEA was informed on May 5, 2003 that construction would begin in June 2004. The reactor was originally going to be constructed at a location in Esfahan, though after the designs were completed, the Iranian leadership decided to build instead at its present location in Arak. In August 2006, mixed reports came out about when the reactor would go into operation, one stating that the plant would start up in 2009, while another reported that operation would be postponed until 2011. Some reports have even put the date for the commencement of operation as far back as 2013.
In full operation, it is expected that the reactor will produce from 10 kilograms (22 lb) to 12 kilograms (26.5 lb) of plutonium
a year within its spent nuclear fuel
, enough for two nuclear weapons a year if the spent fuel was reprocessed. Iran is also constructing hot cell
s at the IR-40, which could be used for nuclear reprocessing
. Aspects of IR-40's design will also serve as a prototyping and testbed for the larger 336 megawatt Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant
under construction near Ahvaz
. The IAEA has reported that it found no indication of ongoing reprocessing activities, but also that Iran has denied access to the IR-40 for design information verification, despite the IAEA's right to conduct such verification. Iran states that the reactor will only be used for R&D, medical and industrial isotope production. On June 16, 2010 Iran announced plans to fabricate fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor by September 2011 and to build a new 20 MW reactor for radioisotope production within five years.
from Russia
, which they used to domestically design the larger IR-40 reactor. The current Iranian research reactor, TRR
, is nearing the end of its operational life having been in use since 1967.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian 40 megawatt (thermal) heavy water reactor
Heavy water reactor
A pressurised heavy water reactor is a nuclear power reactor, commonly using unenriched natural uranium as its fuel, that uses heavy water as its coolant and moderator. The heavy water coolant is kept under pressure in order to raise its boiling point, allowing it to be heated to higher...
under construction in Arak
Arak, Iran
-Industries:thumb|right|250px|wagon parsArak is one of the main industrial cities of Iran, possessing many plants for heavy industries especially for the metal and machinery industries, including:...
. While the basic design was completed in 2002, the IAEA was informed on May 5, 2003 that construction would begin in June 2004. The reactor was originally going to be constructed at a location in Esfahan, though after the designs were completed, the Iranian leadership decided to build instead at its present location in Arak. In August 2006, mixed reports came out about when the reactor would go into operation, one stating that the plant would start up in 2009, while another reported that operation would be postponed until 2011. Some reports have even put the date for the commencement of operation as far back as 2013.
In full operation, it is expected that the reactor will produce from 10 kilograms (22 lb) to 12 kilograms (26.5 lb) of plutonium
Plutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
a year within its spent nuclear fuel
Spent nuclear fuel
Spent nuclear fuel, occasionally called used nuclear fuel, is nuclear fuel that has been irradiated in a nuclear reactor...
, enough for two nuclear weapons a year if the spent fuel was reprocessed. Iran is also constructing hot cell
Hot cell
Shielded nuclear radiation containment chambers are commonly referred to as hot cells. The word "hot" refers to radioactivity.Hot cells are used in both the nuclear-energy and the nuclear-medicines industries....
s at the IR-40, which could be used for nuclear reprocessing
Nuclear reprocessing
Nuclear reprocessing technology was developed to chemically separate and recover fissionable plutonium from irradiated nuclear fuel. Reprocessing serves multiple purposes, whose relative importance has changed over time. Originally reprocessing was used solely to extract plutonium for producing...
. Aspects of IR-40's design will also serve as a prototyping and testbed for the larger 336 megawatt Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant
Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant
The Darkhovin Nuclear Power Plant is a planned nuclear power plant located about 70 kilometers south of Ahvaz, Iran at the Karun river. One reactor is firmly planned...
under construction near Ahvaz
Ahvaz
-History:For a more comprehensive historical treatment of the area, see the history section of Khūzestān Province.-Ancient history:Ahvaz is the anagram of "Avaz" and "Avaja" which appear in Darius's epigraph...
. The IAEA has reported that it found no indication of ongoing reprocessing activities, but also that Iran has denied access to the IR-40 for design information verification, despite the IAEA's right to conduct such verification. Iran states that the reactor will only be used for R&D, medical and industrial isotope production. On June 16, 2010 Iran announced plans to fabricate fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor by September 2011 and to build a new 20 MW reactor for radioisotope production within five years.
History
Iran's leadership decided to begin designing IR-40 in the 1980s, amid concerns that their plans at uranium enrichment would fail. After Iran was unable to get a reactor from abroad, they allegedly received blueprints for a research reactorResearch reactor
Research reactors are nuclear reactors that serve primarily as a neutron source. They are also called non-power reactors, in contrast to power reactors that are used for electricity production, heat generation, or maritime propulsion.-Purpose:...
from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, which they used to domestically design the larger IR-40 reactor. The current Iranian research reactor, TRR
TRR
TRR can mean:* China Bay Airport near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka* Low-rolling resistance tires* Test Readiness Review* Tehran Research Reactor, an Iranian nuclear research reactor, supplied by the U.S. in 1960...
, is nearing the end of its operational life having been in use since 1967.