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</ref>. The PAEC scientists and engineers also built and constructed the [[nuclear accelerator]] on April 9, 1989. The [[particle accelerator]] is heavily used to conduct research in nuclear technology.
</ref>. The PAEC scientists and engineers also built and constructed the [[nuclear accelerator]] on April 9, 1989. The [[particle accelerator]] is heavily used to conduct research in nuclear technology.

==PARR-III Reactor (New-Labs)==

Unlike the PARR-I and PARR-II, the third reactor is not subject to [[IAEA]] inspections. The third reacot is completely differently from its parent's reactor. The third PAR-III Reactor, a plutonium [[weapon grade]] fuel reactor known as "''New Labs''" is a [[Pu|94PU]], a processing of the plutonium fuel<ref>{{Citation
| last =(FAS)
| first =Federation of American Scientists
| author-link =Federation of American Scientists
| last2 =
| first2 =
| author2-link =
| title =PINSTECH / New Labs
| date =Saturday, March 18, 2000
| year =20000
| url =http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/pakistan/facility/rawalpindi.htm
| accessdate =2010 }}
</ref>. Much of the information about the third reactor is not fully known, however, New Labs were designed and constructed indigenously by the Munir Ahmad Khan and Hafeez Qureshi. The reactor llicitly acquired [[French]] and [[Belgian]] [[Nuclear reactor technology|technology]]<ref>{{Citation
| last =
| first =GlobalSecurity.org
| author-link =GlobalSecurity.org
| last2 =
| first2 =
| author2-link =
| title =Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology:New Labs
| date =
| year =
| url =http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/pakistan/rawalpindi-fac.htm
| accessdate =2010 }}
</ref>. The reactor was completed in 1982 and it went critical the same year. The New Labs came into limelight when Pakistan had secretly tested its plutonium fuel-based nuclear device in [[Kirana Hills]]<ref>How Pakistan Made Nuclear Fuel" by Munir Ahmad Khan, former chairperson of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission: Islamabad The Nation 7 February 1998, page 7</ref>.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 08:36, 2 July 2010

Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor
Operating InstitutionPakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH)
TypePool-type reactor
Power10 MW (PARR-I)
30 Kw (PARR-II) (Thermal-nuetron)
Construction and Upkeep
Construction CostUnknown
Construction BeganJuly 8, 1965; 58 years ago (1965-07-08)
Time to Construct5 months
First Criticality1966 December 21
Shutdown dateN/A
Decommission dateN/A
StaffClassified
OperatorsClassified
Refuel FrequencyN/A
Technical Specifications
Max Thermal Flux1.05E+13 n/cm^2-s
Max Fast Flux1.70E+14 n/cm^2-s
Coolinglight water
Neutron Moderatorlight water
Neutron Reflectorheavy water, graphite

The Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor or (PARR), are a two nuclear and experimental neutron research reactor located in the PINSTECH Laboratory, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan. The PARR Reactor is a graphite-moderated, Gas Cooled, nuclear reactor.

It is a type of Very high temperature reactor (VHTR), Thermal-neutron reactor and Pool-type reactor. The research reactors consists of two nuclear power plants. The reactor was supplied and financially constructed by the Government of United States of America in the mids of 1960s. Supervised by the United States and International Atomic Energy Agency, the reactos are subject to IAEA safeguards and its inspections[1].

History of PARR-Reactors

See also: Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology

PARR-Reactor was supplied by the United States government in 1965 under the Atoms for Peace program. The PINSTECH institute was designed by American architect Edward Durrell Stone, when noted Pakistani scientists, dr. Abdus Salam and dr. Ishrat Hussain Usmani traveled to United States of America in early 1960s. The first reactor was supplied by the American Machine and Foundry as the contractors, and it was built by the American nuclear engineer Peter Karter[2].

In the first stage, reactor building and ancillary facilities were completed with the reactor becoming critical on 21 December 1965. The second stage, consisting of various laboratories, workshop, library and auditorium, became operational in 1974. The facility was last upgraded by PAEC chairman and noted nuclear scientist, Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan in 1989.

PARR-I Reactor

The PARR-I is similar to NC State's Pulstar Nuclear Reactor.

PARR-I Reactor was the first reactor that was supplied by American Machine and Foundry. Peter Karte had personally supervised the construction of the reactor. The PARR-I is a swimming pool-type and Materials Test Reactor (MTR) type research reactor. Orginally based on a design to utilize the Highly Enriched Uranmium (HEU) fuel, the HEU fuel utilize the 93% enriched in 235U at a power level of 5 MW[3]. The first reactor went critical on December 21, 1965 under the supervision of dr. Abdus Salam, Hafeez Qureshi, dr. Samar Mubarakmand, dr. Naeem Ahmad Khan and dr. Hameed Ahmad Khan.

The PARR-I Reactor attained its full power on June 22, 1966. In PARR-I, it is virtually impossible to adopt secure the fresh supplies of the HEU fuel. However, to ensure the continuity of the nuclear fuel, PARR-I was converted to utilize the 20% Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) from the U-235 in October 1991[4] The conversion program was led by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) chairman Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan. The PAEC chairman Munir Ahmad Khan also upgraded the reactor's power level from 5 MW to 10 MW.

The program was carried out in order to meet demands of higher neutron fluxes for experimental research purposes and the isotope production. The upgraded reactor was also made available to compensate for the decrease in neutron flux due to higher concentration of 238U in the LEU fuel as compared to the HEU fuel. The reactor was made critical on October 31st, 1991 under the supervision of dr. Ansar Pervaiz and dr. Iqbal Khokar, and attained power level of 9 MW on May 7, 1992. The Core configuration attained its equilibrium configuration in February 1995[5].

PARR-II Reactor

The PARR-II Reactor is an indigenously designed and constructed reactor owned by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. The PARR-II Reactor's design is similar to Miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR) and SLOWPOKE reactor. The reactor was indigenously designed and constructed by the PAEC. PAEC Chairman Munir Ahmad Khan and his team of engineers and scientists indigenously designed the reactor. The Reactor had gone critical and began operating on 1974 January 21[6]. The PARR-II Reactor is a type in pool reactor with a rated power of 27-30 Kw. Same as the first reactor, the reactor is design to utilize the High Enrich Uranium (HEU) fuel. The HEU fuel utilize the 90% U235 at a power level of 30 Kw[7]. The demineralize light water is used as a coolant moderator and the reactor core is reflected by metallic Beryllium-Element 4.

The assembly of a PARR-II is comprising of a core reactor, control rod, and nuclear reflectors, and it is enclosed to a water-tight Cylinderical Aluminium-13 alloy vessel. The Nuclear reactor core is an under-moderated aray with H1 to 235U ratio of temperature of 20°C and provides a strong Negative temperature coefficient and thermal volume coefficients of reactivity[8]. The PAEC scientists and engineers also built and constructed the nuclear accelerator on April 9, 1989. The particle accelerator is heavily used to conduct research in nuclear technology.

PARR-III Reactor (New-Labs)

Unlike the PARR-I and PARR-II, the third reactor is not subject to IAEA inspections. The third reacot is completely differently from its parent's reactor. The third PAR-III Reactor, a plutonium weapon grade fuel reactor known as "New Labs" is a 94PU, a processing of the plutonium fuel[9]. Much of the information about the third reactor is not fully known, however, New Labs were designed and constructed indigenously by the Munir Ahmad Khan and Hafeez Qureshi. The reactor llicitly acquired French and Belgian technology[10]. The reactor was completed in 1982 and it went critical the same year. The New Labs came into limelight when Pakistan had secretly tested its plutonium fuel-based nuclear device in Kirana Hills[11].

References

  1. ^ Unknown. "See:Pakistan's Nuclear Infrastructure" (google docs). {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ Mastermind of the MRF Logsdon, Gene. BioCycle. Emmaus: Apr 1993. Vol. 34, Iss. 4; pg. 49, ff.
  3. ^ (PINSTECH), Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology. "Pakistan Research Reactor-I" (PDF). PINSTECH, HEC, PAEC. HEC. Retrieved 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Khan, Munir Ahmad (1991). "PARR-I Upgradation Program". {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  5. ^ Pervaiz, Ansar (1995). "PARR-I Program Crticallity" (PDF). Retrieved 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ http://www.paec.gov.pk/pinstech/history.htm
  7. ^ (PINSTECH), Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology. "Chapter 2: Description of Reactors" (google docs). PINSTECH and HEC. Higher Education Commission. Retrieved 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Wasim, M. (Friday, April 18, 2008). "Development and implementation of k 0-INAA standardization at PINSTECH" (html). Nuclear and Radiochemistry Division, PINSTECH.PINSTECH. Akadémiai Kiadó, co-published with Springer Science+Business Media B.V., Formerly Kluwer Academic Publishers B.V. doi:10.1007/s10967-007-7100-8. Retrieved 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ (FAS), Federation of American Scientists (Saturday, March 18, 2000), PINSTECH / New Labs, retrieved 2010 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year=, |accessdate=, and |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  10. ^ Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology:New Labs, retrieved 2010 {{citation}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ How Pakistan Made Nuclear Fuel" by Munir Ahmad Khan, former chairperson of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission: Islamabad The Nation 7 February 1998, page 7

External links

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