NRU Reactor at Chalk River expected to restart by March 2010
AECL to carry out several other repairs during shutdown
Posted By SEAN CHASE
Posted 2 months ago
The dormant NRU reactor at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's Chalk River Laboratories is scheduled for restart and the resumption of medical isotope production by March 2010.
Technicians will also repair six other areas within the reactor's vessel that require attention, however, AECL officials reassured Renfrew County council Wednesday that work would not further delay bring the NRU online.
"We'll return the reactor to safe, reliable operation in the first quarter of 2010," Dr. William Kupferschmidt, vice-president and general manager of AECL research and development, told county councillors. "That is our target. We are on target and we have every expectation we'll meet that target."
The National Research Universal reactor has been out of service since a small leak of heavy water was detected during routine maintenance last May. An initial investigation found that the leak had occurred at the base of the reactor vessel.
In effecting repairs, technician crews have faced numerous challenges, Dr. Kupferschmidt added, including attempts to gain access to the leak, a high radiation field and other technical issues. When the reactor was drained of its coolant, they identified six other locations where repairs would be required in the future to ensure the NRU's continued operation. The decision was made to make those repairs at the same time. Dr. Kupferschmidt added it is a complex operation which has required Radiation Protection technicians to design and built 25 specialized tools to make the repairs.
"This is not trivial science and technology," he said later. "This is a challenge."
To make those repairs, remote-operated cameras and tools will have to be lowered 30 feet into the interior of the vessel through a four and a half inch hole. Specialized welding equipment has been assembled at the site with repairs expected to begin within weeks, added Dr. Kupferschmidt, who described the procedure as like a surgeon performing arthroscopic surgery.
