Advancing nuclear research through optimal design

Mott MacDonald is designing facilities that will help researchers in Belgium gain a new understanding of the use of radioisotopes for medical purposes and to explore potential materials for nuclear fusion.

Designing a world-first research reactor

The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre’s Multi-purpose hYbrid Research Reactor for High-tech Applications (MYRRHA) programme aims to build a research and development facility that will demonstrate the world’s first prototype of a nuclear reactor driven by a particle accelerator.

MYRRHA is being developed in three phases. Phase 1 involves the creation of MINERVA, which consists of a particle accelerator and two target facilities. The Proton Target Facility  will produce innovative radioisotopes for medicine and fundamental physics research; while the Full Power Facility will conduct experiments to test materials for fusion. We’re designing the nuclear buildings and balance of plant for MINERVA. Our work includes space planning and the integration of specialist primary systems, such as the accelerator and target stations, civil/structural and architectural engineering, masterplanning, nuclear HVAC, process systems and building services.

Delivering a streamlined solution

During the conceptual design phase, we identified a way of combining the Proton Target and Full Power Facilities into a single building, now named the MINERVA Application Centre. Our design for the facility fulfils stringent nuclear safety requirements, including high-integrity ventilation and radiological shielding to withstand extreme external loads such as seismic events.

During the basic design phase, we worked with stakeholders to develop an integrated and coherent approach to the delivery of works to enable the procurement of contractors and supply chain partners.

We applied a digital-first approach on this project, using the design collaboration software BIM360 (now Autodesk Construction Cloud), to manage complex workflows, coordinate and integrate the design of the buildings, systems and components, as well as identifying opportunities for optimisation. The design considers sustainability throughout, minimising the use of carbon-intensive construction materials. As an example, where feasible, soil is being used as a radiological shielding material as an alternative to concrete.

Taking design to delivery

The MYRRHA programme facilities are now under construction. The facilities will house an isotope separation online system, contributing to energy and medical research that will advance power from nuclear fusion and develop new therapeutic radioisotopes that can fight cancer cells in a more targeted way.

The facilities will also pioneer new techniques for managing nuclear materials and handling waste, which will benefit the nuclear power industry and wider society.

The construction and operation of MINERVA will be the first step in the delivery of the wider MYRRHA programme, which includes the research reactor that forms MYRRHA programme phase 3.