Topic: Chalk River reactor back on line (Read 1365 times)

Nemesis · « **on:** August 17, 2010, 12:15:44 pm »

Quote

OTTAWA — Medical isotopes are expected to be ready for processing and distribution this week, following Tuesday morning’s restart of the Chalk River nuclear reactor.

“We’ve begun to create medical isotopes,” said Robin Forbes, spokeswoman for Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., which owns and operates the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor northwest of Ottawa.

“We’re working to get the first shipment off this week,” to MDS Nordion in Ottawa, where the isotopes are processed before being sent to hospitals and other users.

The successful restart follows a 15-month operation to repair corrosion in the heavy-water containment vessel of the world’s oldest operating nuclear reactor.

Sirgod · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2010, 08:53:10 pm »

What kind of Reactor is Chalk River? I'm wanting to say it was based on the Tokamak , but I'm not sure if that's right.

Stephen

FireSoul · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2010, 10:11:25 pm »

Interesting..

My grandfather (through marriage, because grand-mere remarried) once worked at the Chalk River facility. I think he cleaned floors or something menial. They lived in the nearby town of Deep River.

I think it's a CANDU reactor of some kind. Check out the wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalk_River_Laboratories

Sirgod · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2010, 12:25:07 am »

I bet your right, the article you listed mentioned Tritium in the heavy water.

Stephen

Nemesis · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2010, 12:34:55 pm »

I believe that this reactor predates the CANDU design by several years. It was an early Canadian reactor designed for scientific use. It has been remodeled on more than one occasion. Likely it is pretty much a one of design with things learned from it applied to later designs like CANDU.

stoneyface · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2010, 06:42:51 pm »

it is a heavy water reactor style facility

Bonk · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2010, 07:10:41 am »

Wootelage!

I wish we'd put more into our nuclear technology. We've been so far ahead for so long that we've rested on our laurels for ages now. Time to get back to work.

It is funny though, as I've bought these materials several times, but always through American distributors and packagers! Typical Canadian trade mentality: export the raw product then buy back the value added product. We are so damn lazy these days.

I'm going to have a need for some of them again soon. This is good.

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