RSV TAPIRO and TRIGA RC-1 research reactors activities

Neutrons produced by research reactors have an important role in the development of nuclear science and technology and also in education and training on these applications. These facilities, originally constructed during the ‘60 s and ‘70 s decades, were initially used for the national nuclear program, then their original mission was converted to host the activities correlated with the neutrons and gamma radiations. The increasing interest in neutron radiation damage analysis, due to the very qualified energy spectrum of these types of reactors, allowed the ENEA research reactors, RC SV TAPIRO and TRIGA RC-1, to be used for different R&D areas. In this paper, the main characteristics and the most relevant applications of these two reactors carried out during their life operations have been fully described.