Energiatudomanyi Kutatokozpont (EK)

Description of the legal entity

The Centre for Energy Research (EK) was established in January 2012 on the basis of two former independent institutions, the Institute of Isotopes (IKI) and the KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute (AEKI). The Centre is part of the research network of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The mission of the Centre for Energy Research is to perform research and development in the field of nuclear science and technology for facilitating the adoption and the safe use of nuclear technology in Hungary, to participate in international research efforts aiming at the establishing a new generation of nuclear power plants and closing the fuel cycle, to study the interaction of radiation (including neutrons, gamma-rays and electrons) with matter, and to do isotope and nuclear chemistry, chemical analysis by nuclear methods, radiography, radiation chemistry, radiation protection and nuclear security, surface chemistry and renewable energy research.

The Laboratory of Fuel and Reactor Materials deals with radiation embrittlement and lifetime extension, use of Master Curve and miniature specimens.

Profile of staff members involved

Mrs Marta Horvath (female): M.Sc. Mechanical Engineer, MSc. Material Testing Engineer, Head of the metallography laboratory. She participated in the FRAME, PISA, GRETE, COBRA, VERLIFE, PERFECT, COVERS, LONGLIFE, EU FP projects and in several national projects. Her main activity fields: mechanical properties testing, metallography, testing of RPV materials, fuel element cladding (zircon alloys), aluminium alloys and other special structural materials (e.g. Eurofer, ODS etc.) testing.
Ms Ildiko Szenthe (female): M.Sc. Mechanical Engineer, M. Sc. Business Studies, Senior Research Associate. She has 24 years experiences in mechanical engineering, planning, data and project management, research. Main activity field: development of material testing methodology and equipment.
Dr Ferenc Gillemot (male): Dr, PhD in Mech Engn., 40 years at EK study neutron radiation, fracture mechanics and RPV life time and surveillance. Presently contracted engineer and Manager of A.S.I Consultancy
Dr. Gabor Vertesy (male): PhD, DSc, Scientific advisor. Dr. Vertesy studied physics at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest. Presently he is the head of laboratory of material characterization. He is currently working on lifetime management and material characterization in civil engineering, energy and transport, sound knowledge in NDT methods especially by measuring magnetic hysteresis. He was/is project leader of several national and international collaborative project/s in the field of NDT in civil engineering. He has published over 100 papers in refereed international journals, (http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-5863-2011), he had over 100 presentations at international scientific meetings. His accumulated impact factor of journal publications is 125, and he has more than 650 independent citations. He is holder of 7 patents.
Mr Antal Gasparics (male): PhD, Research fellow. Mr. Gasparics holds a diploma in electrical engineering and a PhD in materials science, specialized in electromagnetic materials characterization. He took part in several projects aiming developing of non-destructive material characterization techniques. He developed novel eddy current measuring head, which combines the conventional eddy current technique with high sensitivity magnetic field measurement and takes part presently in magnetic measurements. He has published 40 papers in refereed international journals and he has more than 120 independent citations.

Relevant publications, and/or products, services

Gillemot F., Horváth A., Horváth M., et. al., “Microstructural changes in highly irradiated 15H2MFA steel” (2014), 26th Symposium on the Effects of Radiation on Nuclear Materials. ASTM STP, Paper ID STP2013-00983
Kryukov A., Debarberis L., von Estorff U., Gillemot F., Oszvald F., “Irradiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steel at very high neutron fluence” (2013), Journal of Nuclear Materials. 422: 173–177
Gaganidze E., Gillemot F., Szenthe I., Gorley M., Rieth M., Diegele E., “Development of EUROFER97 database and material property handbook Fusion” (2018), Engineering and Design, Volume 135, Part A, October 2018: 9-14
Vértesy G., Gasparics A., Szenthe I., Gillemot F., Uytdenhouwen I., “Inspection of reactor steel degradation by magnetic adaptive testing Materials” (2019), 12: 963
Kryukov A., Debarberis L., Hahner P., Gillemot F., Oszvald F., “Prediction of irradiation embrittlement of Vanadium alloyed low nickel steel for future reactors” (2011), Journal of Nuclear Materials, 421: 327-330

Relevant previous projects or activities

LONGLIFE EU project
Eurofusion EDDI WP-MAT
AGE 60 EU project
VERLIFE EU project
NOMAD EU project

Significant infrastructure and/or any major items of technical equipment

Hot cells, equipments for mechanical testing, metallography, SEM in the area qualified for working with radioactive materials.