• Date: 13-17 June 2016
• Location:   Mol (BELGIUM)

Heavy liquid metal (HLM) coolants offer new perspectives for the development of innovative nuclear systems for materials research, nuclear waste transmutation and energy production. The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN) is at the forefront of HLM nuclear technology worldwide with the development of the MYRRHA accelerator driven system.

During this summer school, participants will gain insight into the state-of-the-art of research focused to the development of MYRRHA and other HLM-based nuclear systems.  The summer school will cover several aspects of HLM technology that are essential for the engineering design and safety of nuclear systems.

Lectures will be given by experts from SCK•CEN and other internationally renowned research organisations. They will cover the most advanced HLM-based nuclear systems and deal with the chemical, thermal hydraulic and materials issues and challenges in instrumentation and design. Complementary to the lectures, visits are foreseen to various experimental facilities that were constructed at SCK•CEN in support of the MYRRHA project.

Throughout the course week, participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm on best practices and selections of technologies for HLM cooled nuclear systems in interactive sessions with the experts. More information on the programme and the practicalities can be found on http://academy.sckcen.be. Places for this summer school are limited to 35. Participants are invited to send in an abstract for a poster presentation on their research project.

Metal and liquids – from a different perspective

As a research center specialising in heavy liquid metal technology, it seems more than a coincidence that SCK•CEN is neighbor to one of the most successful Heavy Metal festivals in the world: the Graspop Metal Meeting (GMM). The GMM begins when the HLM summer school ends. The three best poster presentations will be awarded with a VIP ticket to enjoy metal and liquids at this unique festival.