HC-KA, Hot Cell Laboratory (ActUsLab)

The Hot Cell Laboratory (HC-KA) consists of 24 shielded hot cells where highly radioactive materials (including full-length light water reactor pins) can be received, handled, examined and returned to their owners.

The facilities are equipped for Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) of nuclear fuels, including non-destructive and destructive techniques. Irradiated fuel pins and capsules properties are determined using profilometry, visual inspection, eddy current measurements, gamma scanning. Internal fission gas pressure and composition are measured by puncture test. Microscopy examination of fuel and cladding, and heat treatments (limited to specific configurations) can be performed. A Raman spectrometer for the determination of surface composition is also available in the hot cell.

Mechanical properties of 250-300 mm pre-pressurised fuel rod sections using three-point bending and impact device are determined to answer emerging issues pertaining to interim fuel storage and subsequent handling. Ring compression test- capabilities are also available.

Measurements of the Hydrogen content in the cladding are performed with the hot extraction technique.

A suite of chemical cells enables investigation of the back end of the fuel cycle, with focus on the long-term chemical (corrosion) stability of irradiated fuel in ground water, under both oxidising and reducing conditions (as expected in the final geological repositories). The stability of damaged fuel (“corium”) in fresh, borated and seawater is also investigated. Separate effect studies on tailor-made samples containing alpha emitters and/or simulated fission products are performed in standard gloveboxes.

A dedicated analytical sector provides ICP-MS measurements of leachates as well as full characterisation of dissolved fuel samples, including burn-up determination.  Furthermore, analytical methods for the determination of key ß-emitters at trace levels by Sector Field ICP-MS coupled to automated flow injection techniques are developed for so called “difficult to measure nuclides”, and are augmented by alternative innovative initiatives based on laser spectroscopy (14C, 36Cl, etc.). Dedicated radiometric measurement tools are also available.

The Hot Cell facility serves also as a hub for the preparation of irradiated fuel samples for, among others,  electron microprobe analysis, Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry, thermal diffusivity measurements.

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Priority topics of Hot Cell Laboratory

1. Applied research on materials and methods related to the spent fuel nuclear safety
2. Spent fuel long term mechanistic release process of interest for geological disposal
3. R&I activities for the characterisation of radioactive waste including new waste forms
4. R&D on the stability and safe conditioning of damaged fuel ("corium")

Definition and conditions of access

Access to the research infrastructure is granted on the basis of Access Units. For HC-KA, the Access Unit ( 'AU')  corresponds to an 'Operating day' made available for the experimental activities. Projects involving long-term stays (3-9 months) of students are encouraged.

Physical access to the laboratories is restricted to opening hours but, in certain cases, automatic measurements can be performed when the laboratories are closed. Users can utilise the JRC equipment with the help of JRC staff. Employment of Users own equipment is not recommended in laboratories inside the controlled area, because of the strict radiation protection rules in force at JRC Karlsruhe. If the use of own equipment is necessary, this has to be indicated and duly justified in the proposal and should be coordinated already well in advance before the scheduled laboratory time. Users of the HC-KA laboratory can only participate in experiments conducted by in-house staff scientists or technicians.

Users will be requested to complete and submit safety and security-related documents to receive access to the laboratories. Approval of access is subject to the rules of the European Commission, the Joint Research Centre and the German authorities. Submission of documents should therefore start in due time to allow completion of the approval procedure well before the start of the experiment.

• Estimated total number of Operating days allocated to the call: 30 AU*
• Average number of Operating days per Project: 10-15 AU  
• Estimated maximum duration of the User Access Project: 24 months
• Estimated additional costs excluding consumables and other expenses:
  • Research infrastructure operated by JRC staff: 0€ / AU
  • Research infrastructure operated by users: Not possible

* A total of 180 Operating Days will be allocated to the PAMEC, HC-KA and FMR laboratories.

** In addition, a total of 100 Access Units (Operating days) can be granted for each User Project that consider Users visiting the JRC for long-term stays

Support of Users for travel and subsistence

The JRC may provide a financial or in-kind contribution to support Users to cover their costs of travel and subsistence (T&S) related to the User Stay Days, subject to the availability of funds, personnel and other resources to Users from User Institutions located in an EU Member State or country associated to the Euratom Research Programme (only Ukraine).

A User Stay Day is a day of physical presence of a User at the concerned Research Infrastructure for Access related to the User Project. A registered entry to the JRC site where the Research Infrastructure is located counts as a User Stay Day.

• Estimated total number of User Stay Days for short- term stays eligible for T&S allocated to the call: 30
• Estimated total number for long- term stays (months) eligible for T&S allocated to the call: 10

A short-term stay corresponds to a stay of up to 20 User Stay Days.

A long-term stays corresponds to a stay exceeding 20 User Stay Days, up to a maximum of 200 User Stay Days.

For more information on the support offered to users please consult the Rules on the contribution to travel and subsistence expenses of external users.

Long term stays are primarily meant for students and have a duration of at least 1 month. They are typically 3 to 9 months for Karlsruhe, and 1 to 6 months for Petten and Geel.

The Lead User is invited to fill in the User travel and subsistence form and and send it to JRC-ACTUSLAB-KARLSRUHEec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-ACTUSLAB-KARLSRUHE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call. For more information the Lead User may contact the JRC Research Infrastructure at JRC-ACTUSLAB-KARLSRUHEec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-ACTUSLAB-KARLSRUHE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).  

Allocation of intellectual property rights

• The JRC and the entitled party (person or organisation that has been granted access) become co-owners in equal shares of all raw data, treated data and documentation data developed with respect to the access.

Eligibility criteria

• The Lead User Institution and User Institutions (see definitions in the Framework) must be from an EU Member State, or country associated to the Euratom research programme.
• The scope of the work for nuclear RIs must be in line with the activities defined in Annex I of Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765.
• The Lead User Institution must be from a university, research or public institution, or from a Small-Medium-Enterprise (SME).
• User Institutions from international organisations, under the condition that the Lead User Institution and at least 2/3 of all the User Institutions (including the Lead User Institution) are located in a Member State or a country associated to Horizon Europe or to the Euratom research programme. In case of one or two User Institutions (including the Lead User Institutions), this requirement is only applied to the Lead User Institution.
• Ethical considerations in accordance with EU Law, in particular Art. 19 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, and applicable laws and regulations in the EU Member States.
• The proposal submission form is complete and complies with the instructions.

Selection criteria

Proposals will be evaluated in accordance to the following selection criteria:

• Scientific implementation (50 points)
• Collaboration and access to new Users (20 points)
• Strategic relevance (30 points)

How to apply

The proposal must be prepared using the Relevance-driven Proposal Submission Form.

During preparation of the proposal, applicants are encouraged to:

• Read the "Framework for Access to the physical Research Infrastructures of the JRC" and its annexes.
• Contact the research infrastructure at JRC-ACTUSLAB-KARLSRUHEec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-ACTUSLAB-KARLSRUHE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) to specify the level of experience of the User(s) to perform related tests and to assess feasibility aspects related to the capacity of the research infrastructure concerning:
  • Material
  • Test parameters,
  • Specimen geometry.

Proposal should be submitted to JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESSec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call.

The User Selection Committee will only evaluate proposals that are complete and comply with the instructions in the proposal submission form.