There were approximately 100 rods in the reactor at the time NRU was shut down
– By Stephen Heiser –
AECL has announced that it has begun the process of removing fuel rods from the NRU reactor as part of the process to repair the reactor and return it to service.
There were approximately 100 rods in the reactor at the time NRU was shut down on May 14th. Of this total, 81 were used for fuel and the remaining used for isotope production and reactor control.
Rod removal will take an estimated three to four weeks to complete.
Further guidance on a return to service date beyond the current estimate of at least three months will be provided when a final decision has been made with respect to the repair technique chosen.
AECL confirms that there is no threat to workers, the public, the environment or nuclear safety related to this event. AECL will continue to provide updates to the CNSC and stakeholders when new information becomes available.
At 6:10 a.m. on November 3, 1957, the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor reached criticality for the first time. With that landmark achievement, Canadian science and technology stepped up onto the world stage.
At 200 million watts of power, it was a quantum leap forward from its predecessor, the National Research Experimental (NRX), and once again showcased Canada's Chalk River Laboratories as a world leader.
“NRU is a unique and powerful world class science facility in Canada,” said Brian McGee, Chief Nuclear Officer. “This reactor stands as a shining example of a true Canadian success story. It is a pioneer in nuclear medicine and the foundation in the development of the nuclear industry in this country.”
A research tool, NRU provides knowledge that helps AECL build safer and more efficient nuclear power plants. It has also been the birthplace of many scientific achievements.