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High-Level Research Facilities
MNR is a pool-type reactor, with a core of enriched uranium fuel moderated and cooled by light water. It operates weekdays from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight at a thermal power of 3Mw. MNR's flexible design makes it a versatile facility. The many irradiation sites are briefly described in the table below. All facilities have thermal and epithermal capability except the Dry Tube, which is epithermal only. Irradiation times can vary from seconds to months.
The reactor was upgraded to operate at powers up to 5 MW, with a maximum thermal flux of 1 x 1014 neutrons/cm2 per second. Plans are nearly complete to convert to Low Enriched Uranium fuel to ensure continued safe operation and comply with international standards.
The purpose of the coolant system is to safely remove energy generated in the fission process from the reactor core and transport it to a final heat sink. The system is designed to maintain the fuel and other components at temperatures as well below those at which any damage or degradation might occur. The MNR design is comprised of a primary loop (including a large heat sink) in direct contact with the fuel. A secondary loop is also used to remove heat from the primary circuit.
The reactor pool is divided by a vertical gate into two parts. The reactor can be stored in one section of the pool while changes in experimental equipment are made in the other. The open pool concept provides ready access to the reactor core and its experimental facilities, making it a flexible research tool, capable of adapting to changing research requirements.
MNR is the only Canadian medium flux reactor in a university environment. MNR's neutrons are used by nuclear physics, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, medicine and nuclear medicine.
