Customer login:
|
The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is home to the SLOWPOKE II – a low-power research reactor. It is located in a secure facility in Saskatoon and has operated trouble-free since commissioning in 1981. SRC takes safety very seriously and safety is an overriding priority for our organization. Below is a series of frequently asked questions. Should you have further questions about the research reactor, or about SRC in general, please get in touch with us by calling 306-933-5400 or sending an email to info@src.sk.ca.
Q: What does the name ‘SLOWPOKE’ mean? A: The name ‘SLOWPOKE’ refers to Safe LOW Power Kritical Experiment. The term “kritical” refers to the point at which a nuclear fission reaction can be sustained. Q: How do you use the reactor? A: The reactor is used as an analytical tool to analyze for uranium and organic halides*. It is used as a neutron source for an analytical technique referred to as NAA—neutron activation analysis—which is carried out by bombarding the sample with neutrons to produce isotopes of the element that are measured based on their gamma emissions. *Organic halides, or organic, halogen compounds can enter the environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources such as industrial waste streams. (Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are a familiar and commonly encountered example of an organic halide.) After separation of organically bound species from inorganic using various extraction procedures, chlorine, bromine and iodine can be measured using NAA. There are other means of measuring organic halogen compounds but the industry preferred method is NAA. Q: Do you produce medical isotopes with it? A: No: Q: Where is it located? A: The research reactor is located at the Saskatchewan Research Council in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Q: Who designed the reactor? A: The SLOWPOKE was designed by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) in the 1970s. Q: Does it produce power? A: No. It is a research reactor designed to analyze samples. Q: How similar is the reactor to a CANDU power reactor? A: The SLOWPOKE is a research reactor designed for analytical testing. It is not a power reactor. Q: What are the benefits of having a research reactor in Saskatchewan? A: Our reactor allows us to perform analytical testing for a variety of clients. SRC is committed to adding value for the people of Saskatchewan. By performing the analyses here in Saskatchewan, we are adding value to the local economy. Q: How big is it? A: The core of the reactor is the size of a shoe box. There is also a protective barrier and some controls in the workroom.
Q: How do you get samples in and out of the reactor? A: Samples are sent into, and exit, the reactor via a pneumatic (air) transfer system. Q: How safe is the reactor? A: The SLOWPOKE has been operating trouble free since 1981. Its design is fail-safe and does not require an active mechanical safety system. Heat produced by the reactor limits its reactivity and operation. In addition, there are several safety system shut downs in place to keep employees and the facility safe. People who live, work and study in the surrounding community are safe. Q: Have you ever had a security breach at the reactor? A: No. Q: What powers the reactor? A: A uranium core. Q: Has it been refueled? A: Never. The reactor continues to operate using the original fuel. Q: How often is it serviced? A: The only servicing undertaken has been periodic visits by AECL personnel to restore the reactor to its maximum allowable level of reactivity (reactivity is lost through the normal operation of the reactor). Q: Does it generate waste? A: There is no waste generated from the reactor itself. The original fuel is contained within the reactor and will be available for use for many more years. Q: What about the samples? Do you consider them waste? A: Samples that have entered into the reactor are disposed of according to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) guidelines. Q: Why have you kept the reactor a secret? A: We haven’t! All CNSC licenced facilities are listed in the public domain and SRC has worked with news media to provide information to the public. It is also listed on our website and has been mentioned in past newsletters and annual reports. Q: Are there similar reactors in Canada? A: Yes there are a number of similar reactors found mainly on university campuses across Canada. Q: Who oversees the reactor? A: Operation of the SLOWPOKE requires a federal licence granted by the CNSC, which visits us annually. Q: How many people are trained to run the SLOWPOKE? A: For security reasons we cannot discuss details around staffing. Q: What kind of training is required to run the SLOWPOKE? A: A licensed operator must have a minimum grade 12 education with science and be trained under the supervision of a licensed operator. They must write two exams (safety and theory) administered by the CNSC and demonstrate they can perform certain operations. Authorized users must write a safety exam developed by the CNSC and administered by a licensed operator. The reactor operators require recertification every five years. Q: Does SRC support the proponents looking to build a nuclear power reactor in Saskatchewan? A: SRC maintains its position as an independent, unbiased provider of science-based solutions to real-world problems and challenges faced by business, industry and communities. SRC does not take a position on political issues or matters of public policy debate. Q: Do you give tours of the lab? Do you give tours of the reactor? A: We do not provide tours of the lab or the reactor to the general public.
For additional information about the SLOWPOKE II reactor, read the following article which originally ran in the March 2009 issue of Saskatchewan Business Magazine. |