RERTR-2019 International Meeting

The National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Material Management and Minimization (M3) will host the "RERTR-2019 International Meeting" to be held in Zagreb, Croatia at the Westin Zagreb Hotel on October 6-9, 2019. Argonne National Laboratory is organizing the annual International Meeting in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

We are excited to celebrate this 40th instance of the RERTR International Meeting as we look toward our future shared successes in HEU minimization.

Information will be exchanged at RERTR-2019 on the progress of national and international programs to develop low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuels, conversion analysis studies and licensing to convert research and test reactors to the use of such fuels.

The traditional RERTR technical subjects will include

• Development of new LEU fuels
• Design and safety analyses for reactor conversions, and
• Transportation and storage of fresh LEU and spent HEU fuels

In addition to the traditional topics of current reactor conversion analyses and high density LEU fuel qualification, the M3 Reactor Conversion Program would like to encourage papers and posters on the following topics:

• Innovative Related Research: The development of technological solutions for increasingly complex conversions to LEU requires creativity and collaboration. To this end, participants are encouraged to submit papers regarding research or development topics related to conversion work that has seldom been highlighted or discussed in the RERTR context. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
• Conversion Lessons Learned with respect to Reactor Systems
• Status of Qualified LEU Fuel Fabrication and Supply
• Emerging Trends of Neutron Science and Isotope Production
• NSUF, ICERR and Other Research Reactor Consortia
• Benchmarking Data Development and Sharing

• Changing Landscape for HEU Minimization: The RERTR program develops technology necessary to enable the conversion of civilian facilities using high enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuels and targets. Since it began in 1978, the program and the research reactor community have achieved significant success; to date, 103 research reactors and medical isotope facilities worldwide have either converted to LEU or confirmed shutdown. While the mission remains the same, the environment and context in which this technology development have changed. Participants are encouraged to submit papers addressing these changes, including but not limited to:
• Retrospective and Future Views of Research Reactor Programs
• Technology Advancements (such as beam lines, neutron guides, instruments...)
• Opportunities and New Challenges facing the reactor community (such as upgrades, cold sources, experimental loops and devices vs. plant ageing and workforce challenges)
• Connections between Advanced Power Reactor Community and Research Reactors

Technical and policy experts interested in attending the meeting must register online prior to the registration deadline of September 30, 2019. Participants having interest in any of the LEU conversion topics listed above are encouraged to present a paper at the meeting. Please indicate your intention to submit a paper by completing the Abstract Submittal and Publication release forms found here and submitting them along with an abstract of the paper no later than September 4, 2019. Other information to facilitate attendance and participation in the meeting is available by navigating this website.