We are pleased to announce that 10 new NNUF facilities have been funded by EPSRC ("Phase 2a" of NNUF.) Some of these projects build on existing NNUF facilities while others represent the first NNUF investment in an institution (Leeds and Bangor). These projects commenced on 1st October 2021 and will run until 30th September 2023.
The "Phase 2a" facilities comprise:
- RadIAEM (an analytical electron microscope with in situ capability for beta, gamma active materials), to be located at UKAEA's Culham site (PI Dr Joven Lim).
- MULTIForm (MUltiphase Fluid Flow In Nuclear Systems) at Leeds, PI Prof. Bruce Hanson.
- BUFFF (Bangor University Fuel Fabrication Facility), PI Dr Simon Middleburgh.
- A National Focused Ion Beam Facility for Active Materials located in the UKAEA MRF with PIs Prof. Tom Scott (Bristol), Prof. Michael Moody (Oxford) and Dr Viacheslav Kuksenko (UKAEA).
- NUFRETH (Nuclear Fission Reactor Thermal-Hydraulics), to be located at UKAEA's Culham site (PI Mr Chris Harrington).
- FaRMS (Facility for Radioactive Materials Surfaces) at Bristol, PI Dr Ross Springell.
- FaSCiNATe (Facility for the Structural Characterisation of Materials for Nuclear Applications Operating at High Temperatures) at UKAEA's Culham site, PI Dr Andy London.
- PLEIADES (Platform for Long-term Experimental Investigation of Alteration in Disposal Environments and Storage) at Sheffield, PI Claire Corkhill - this facility will be allied to the existing NNUF-funded HADES Facility.
- Development of an in-situ characterisation facility for both proton and neutron irradiation at Birmingham, PI Dr Yu-Lung Chiu - this facility builds on the existing NNUF-funded High Flux Accelerator-Driven Neutron Facility
- EMITS (Enhancing Materials Irradiations through Thoughtful Shielding) at the University of Manchester's Dalton Cumbrian Facility - complementing the investment at DCF made under NNUF Phase 1.
Prof. Chris Grovenor, PI of the NNUF Management Group, said, "It is a pleasure to welcome these 10 new projects that will expand the range and ambition of the NNUF project by offering additional facilities to the UK research community to undertake world class research and development underpinning our nuclear future. The Management Group look forward to supporting them as they come online.”
The facility pages of the NNUF website will be updated as soon as possible with further information about these exciting new investments, which will be available for access under the NNUF access scheme when they open.
