Dr. Jan Rataj received the award from representatives of the Academy of Engineering and its chairman - and also the rector of CTU doc. RNDr. Vojtěch Petráček, CSc. The ceremony took place in the Bethlehem Chapel in the centre of Prague on 20 November 2023.
"We greatly appreciate this prestigious award, which we have received for the implementation of another nuclear reactor at CTU. It is an award and thanks to the whole team of the Nuclear Reactor Department, which participated in the construction," adds Jan Rataj.
The VR-2 subcritical reactor is a very flexible facility that offers a range of experimental and teaching opportunities. The main part of the activities is teaching of nuclear engineering students. The facility is used for teaching laboratory assignments, and is also used for experiments in the context of students' bachelor, master and doctoral theses.
"The new reactor will help us meet the growing demand for educational activities, but it will also be involved in research activities. Our students have already participated in experiments on the reactor this autumn, so the newly opened facility is not idle and is already fulfilling its purpose," explains Jan Rataj, head of the KJR.
The VR-2 reactor can be classified as a subcritical reactor, which means that there is not enough fuel to sustain a fission chain reaction. Thus, operation can only be achieved with an external neutron source. Once the source is switched off, fission stops. This allows for simpler reactor design and construction. Detailed technical details of the VR-2 can be found HERE.
The VR-2 reactor project is unique in that FJFI experts not only designed the nuclear facility, but also managed the entire project of its preparation, construction and commissioning. In addition to the staff of the Nuclear Reactor Department, experts from other faculties of the CTU, especially in the field of subsurface exploration and concrete casting of the reactor vessel, from CTU Faculty of Civil Engineering, participated in the preparation and construction of the reactor. Many thanks goes to them too!
Further information about the FJFI school reactors, study programmes and scientific activities can be found on the KJR website.
