Nuclear plants for D.S.I.R.

Press, 28 April 1981, Page 19

Nuclear plants for D.S.I.R.

PA Wellington A big part of the D.S.I.R.’s new nuclear accelerator has arrived at Wellington to complete the $600,000 unit. The second-hand pressure vessel, valued at is 10m long with a diameter of 2.5 m. It arrived by sea from the National University in Canberra. Mr Gilbert Peterson, the publicity officer of the D.5.1.R., said the existing unit could not cope with the work load much longer, so the department invested in another one. "The new one is much more powerful, and has a much wider range of applications,” he said.

Although the price tag of the Tandem Van De Graff nuclear accelerator is in the upper bracket, Mr Peterson

insists that it is a “good buy.” “A new one of these is $1.7 million, and even a secondhand American one is $850,000.” he said.

The main purposes of the new unit will be carbon dating and measuring minute quantities in ultra-sensitive detection experiments.

As matter passes through the entrance of the pressure vessel to the centre, six million volts are generated. This rises to 12 million volts in the experiment area. “This type of work is increasing fairly rapidly." said Mr Peterson. "It will’also be used for measuring hydrogen and nitrogen in metals, for corrosion study.” Mr Peterson said the unit should be installed and running by the beginning of next vear.