WR-1 nuclear reactor
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The WR-1 (Whiteshell Reactor No. 1) nuclear reactor once situated at the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment (WNRE), was unique at the time as a heavy water-moderated reactor cooled by an organic fluid (oil). The 60 MW (thermal) WR-1 research reactor was designed and built by Canadian General Electric for $14.5 million. The reactor first achieved criticality on November 1, 1965, and was used as a test reactor for the proposed organic-cooled CANDU power reactor. When that program ceased in 1972, WR1 was used for irradiation, experimentation and heating the WNRE site
[edit] Design
The reactor had vertical fuel channels, was cooled by an organic liquid (an oil) rather than water. The neutrons were moderated by cool heavy water in a large calandria vessel surrounding the fuel channels. The reactor did not use conventional control rods, but relied on control of the level of the heavy water moderator to adjust the power output. The reactor could be shut down quickly (SCRAM) by rapid dumping of the moderator. The organic liquid, called OS-84, that was selected as a coolant in WR-1 is a mixture of terphenyls treated catalytically with hydrogen to produce 40 percent saturated hydrocarbons. The terphenyls are petrochemical derivatives that were readily available and were already in use as heat transfer media. Using an organic coolant meant the reactor was run at low operating pressures, and had very low corrosion rates. The organic coolant also meant the reactor could be run at high temperatures, with outlet temperatures up to 425°C.
[edit] Status
WR1 was shut down for the last time ostensibly for economic reasons,onMay 17, 1985 although it was the youngest of AECL's large research reactors. The reactor is currently in an interim decommissioning stage, defuelled and largely disassembled. The site will be returned to Green Field status at the end of decommissioning.
