BR2, one of the most powerful research reactors in the world

The BR2 reactor is a nuclear research reactor located at the Mol Nuclear Research Centre in Belgium. It was commissioned in 1962 and is a pool reactor, i.e. its core is submerged in water.

It is considered one of the most powerful research reactors in the world, with a maximum power of 100 MWt (25 MWe).

Its main purpose is the irradiation of materials under a high neutron flux, which are then used in a wide range of applications, such as:

• Materials research: Used to study the behaviour of materials under radiation. This information is used to develop new materials that are more resistant to corrosion and wear and have better mechanical properties. For example, one month in this reactor has the same effect on the steel of the casing as forty years of normal ageing in a nuclear reactor. In a way, time is accelerated.
• Radioisotope production: Radioisotopes are used in various applications, including medicine, industry and research. Radioisotopes are used in nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat certain diseases, including cancer. In the industrial sector, on the other hand, radioisotopes are used in the production of high-quality semiconductors (doped silicon). These semiconductors are the primary material for high-capacity electronic components, such as those found in solar and wind energy systems, or hybrid cars and high-speed trains.
• Development of new technologies: such as nuclear fusion and thorium nuclear energy production.

The reactor is also a centre of excellence for nuclear safety research.

BR2 is scheduled to continue operating until 2032, during which time it will undergo a series of upgrades to improve its safety and performance.