High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR)
Situated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, USA, the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) is renowned for having the highest continuous neutron flux in the Western Hemisphere. It plays a critical role in civilian applications, producing medical isotopes like Mo-99 and supporting neutron scat
Key Stats
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High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR)
Status: OPERATIONAL Category: RESEARCH Country: USA USA Operator: oak-ridge-national-laboratory Type: Flux trap [Flux trap](/library/wiki/technologies/Flux trap) Capacity: 85 MWth (thermal only)
Overview
Situated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, USA, the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) is renowned for having the highest continuous neutron flux in the Western Hemisphere. It plays a critical role in civilian applications, producing medical isotopes like Mo-99 and supporting neutron scattering research. Operational since 1965, it remains a key facility for materials irradiation and isotope production.
Key Facts
Notes
Highest continuous neutron flux in the Western Hemisphere. Produces Cf-252, Pu-238 and heavy actinides. Key source of Mo-99, Am-241.
Source: IAEA PRIS / reactors_canonical · Enriched by Grok Last updated: 2026-05-10
Sources
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory - HFIR — Official page for the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, detailing its operations and research applications.
- Wikipedia - High Flux Isotope Reactor — Comprehensive overview of HFIR, including history, design, and civilian applications.
- World Nuclear Association - Nuclear Power in the USA — Country profile providing context on nuclear research and power facilities in the USA, including mentions of HFIR.
- NRC - Operating Nuclear Power Reactors — General list of operating reactors in the USA, useful for context on regulatory oversight, though HFIR is a research reactor.
- World Nuclear News - HFIR Article [UNVERIFIED] — News article on HFIR's restart after upgrades, focusing on its role in isotope production and research.
Sources (1)
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