Speaker
Description
Korea has a long tradition of operating research reactors for nuclear science and engineering education, including the Triga Mark II and III reactors at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), and the AGN-2K reactor currently operated at Kyung Hee University. These reactors provided unique opportunities for hands-on training in reactor physics, critical experiments, and reactor operations. However, with the aging of the Triga reactors and the limited capacity of the AGN-2K system, a modernization plan was initiated in 2024 under the Global Joint Campus Project. This paper outlines the modernization and deployment plan of the newly designed Advanced Critical Assembly for Education (ACE), highlighting the design philosophy, technical features, educational integration, and international collaboration potential. The paper also presents detailed comparisons of legacy reactors and ACE, and provides a phased roadmap for ACE deployment and operationalization.
