NRX

NRX is a nuclear reactor that was built in Chalk River, Ontario, Canada. It was the first reactor in the world to produce megawatt-level power and was the most powerful research reactor in the world when it was completed in 1947. The NRX reactor was used for a variety of research purposes, including the production of radioisotopes for medical and industrial use, and for testing materials and fuels for other reactors.

History

The NRX reactor was designed and built by the Chalk River Laboratories, a division of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). The reactor was commissioned in 1947 and began operation in July of that year. The reactor was designed to operate at a power level of 10 MW, but it was capable of operating at higher power levels. In fact, the NRX reactor set a world record in 1947 when it operated at a power level of 42 MW, making it the most powerful research reactor in the world at the time.

Design

The NRX reactor was a heavy water moderated, light water cooled, natural uranium fueled reactor. The reactor core was housed in a large tank filled with heavy water, which served as the neutron moderator. The core was made up of a lattice of natural uranium fuel rods, which were cooled by light water. The reactor was designed with a number of safety features, including a control rod system that could rapidly shut down the reactor in the event of an emergency.

Accidents

The NRX reactor was involved in two significant accidents during its operational life. The first occurred in 1952, when a power excursion resulted in a partial meltdown of the reactor core. The second accident occurred in 1958, when a fuel rod caught fire during a routine maintenance operation. Both accidents were successfully managed and did not result in any significant release of radioactive material.

Decommissioning

The NRX reactor was shut down in 1993 and is currently in the process of being decommissioned. The decommissioning process involves the removal and disposal of the reactor's radioactive components, as well as the decontamination and demolition of the reactor building.

See also

• List of nuclear reactors
• Nuclear power in Canada
• Nuclear accidents and incidents

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