ZED-2 (Zero Energy Deuterium) is a zero-power

nuclear research reactor Research reactors are nuclear fission-based nuclear reactors that serve primarily as a neutron source. They are also called non-power reactors, in contrast to power reactors that are used for electricity production, heat generation, or mariti ...

built at the

Chalk River Laboratories Chalk River Laboratories (french: Laboratoires de Chalk River; also known as CRL, Chalk River Labs and formerly Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, CRNL) is a Canadian nuclear research facility in Deep River, about north-west of Ottawa. CRL is ...

in Ontario, Canada. It is the successor to the

ZEEP The ZEEP (Zero Energy Experimental Pile) reactor was a nuclear reactor built at the Chalk River Laboratories near Chalk River, Ontario, Canada (which superseded the Montreal Laboratory for nuclear research in Canada). ZEEP first went critical a ...

reactor. Designed by

AECL Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is a Canadian federal Crown corporation and Canada's largest nuclear science and technology laboratory. AECL developed the CANDU reactor technology starting in the 1950s, and in October 2011 licensed this ...

for CANDU reactor support, the unit saw first criticality on 7 September 1960. The reactor is still operating at Chalk River where it is used for reactor

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

and nuclear fuel research.

Description

The ZED-2 is a low-power (200 W), tank-type ( diameter, high), heavy-water moderated reactor capable of a peak flux of 10⁹ n/cm².s. Seven special

Zirconium Zirconium is a chemical element with the symbol Zr and atomic number 40. The name ''zirconium'' is taken from the name of the mineral zircon, the most important source of zirconium. The word is related to Persian '' zargun'' (zircon; ''zar-gun'' ...

alloy An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which at least one is a metal. Unlike chemical compounds with metallic bases, an alloy will retain all the properties of a metal in the resulting material, such as electrical conductivity, ductilit ...

fuel assemblies are used and reactor control is via moderator level adjustment. Liquid (light or heavy water) and gas (CO₂) coolants can be used and be heated to at while the heavy water moderator can be heated or cooled independently of the coolant in the Zr assemblies. ZED-2 has also been used for definitive studies of the effects of heavy water and alternative ordinary (light)

water Water (chemical formula ) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living ...

and organic coolants. Sufficient

CANFLEX CANFLEX; the name is derived from its function: CANDU FLEXible fuelling, is an advanced fuel bundle design developed by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL), along with the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) for use in CANDU design n ...

(43-element) bundles are being built containing SEU fuel to provide "full-core" simulation for the Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR) project. In November 2010, the

American Nuclear Society The American Nuclear Society (ANS) is an international, not-for-profit organization of scientists, engineers, and industry professionals that promote the field of nuclear engineering and related disciplines. ANS is composed of three communities: ...

officially honoured the ZED-2 reactor with the title of 'nuclear historic landmark', recognising its 50 years of service and many contributions in the field of nuclear research and technology.

References

External links

The Canadian Nuclear FAQAECL - Atomic Energy of Canada LimitedAtomic Energy of Canada LimitedCanadian Nuclear Safety CommissionCanadian Nuclear SocietyCanadian Nuclear Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zed-2 Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Nuclear research reactors