CROCUS
| CROCUS | |
|---|---|
CROCUS' core | |
| Operating Institution | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne |
| Coordinates | 46°31′16″N 6°34′13″E / 46.521238°N 6.570361°E |
| Power | 100 W (thermal) |
| Construction and Upkeep | |
| Construction Began | January 1, 1970 |
| First Criticality | July 13, 1983 |
| Staff | 8 |
| Operators | 2 |
| Technical Specifications | |
| Max Thermal Flux | 7.5×108 cm-2s-1 |
| Max Fast Flux | 1.75×109 cm-2s-1 |
| Cooling | light water |
| Neutron Moderator | light water |
| Neutron Reflector | light water |
| Control Rods | 2 |
CROCUS is a research reactor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, a research institute and university in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The uranium nuclear reactor core is in an aluminium container that measures 130 centimetres (51 in) across with 1.2-centimetre (0.47 in)-thick walls. The aluminum vessel is filled with demineralized light water to serve as both a neutron moderator and a neutron reflector.
Power output is controlled either by adjusting the water level in the reactor—with a ±0.1-millimetre (0.0039 in) level of control, or with the adjustment of two boron carbide (B4C) control rods—with a ±1-millimetre (0.039 in) level of finesse. The reactor has six separate safety systems: two cadmium shields and four storage tanks, any of which can shut down the reaction in less than a second.
CROCUS has a license to produce 100 watts (0.13 hp) or a neutron flux of ~2.5 × 109 cm-2s-1 at the core's center.