There is a need for the construction of supplementary interim storage capacity for spent fuel in Belgium, because of the definitive shutdown of the 7 nuclear power plants in the next 4 years.

There is a need for the construction of supplementary interim storage capacity for spent fuel in Belgium, because of the definitive shutdown of the 7 nuclear power plants in the next 4 years

In the framework of the OECD/NEA PKL projects [1], Bel V proposed to perform a series of experimental tests connected with the Natural Circulation Interruption (NCI) issue. The objective was to assess the natural circulation interruption phenomena under asymmetric cooldown conditions and its eventual impact on the current operating emergency procedures (EOPs).

MYRRHA (Multipurpose hYbrid Research Reactor for High-tec Applications) is a unique highly innovative prototype of a nuclear reactor driven by a high power linear accelerator. It will be designed to operate in both critical (no accelerator needed) and subcritical mode. MYRRHA has a fast spectrum core cooled by Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE).

A leak suspected to have been caused by high cycle thermal fatigue due to fluctuating axial motion of a swirl penetration front end has been detected in early 2018 in a non-isolable Reactor Coolant System branch at the Doel 1 Nuclear Power Plant (Belgium).