The Slowpoke-2 Reactor with LEU Oxide Fuel

Abstract

A SLOWPOKE-2 reactor core contains less than 1 kg of highly enriched uranium (EEU*) and the proliferation risk is very low. However, to overcome proliferation concerns a new low enrichment uranium (LEU**) fuelled reactor core has ken designed. This core contains approximately 180 fuel elements based on the Zircaloy-4 clad U02 CANDU fuel element, but with a smaller outside diameter. The physics characteristics of this new reactor core ensure the inherent safety of the reactor under all conceivable conditions and thus the basic SLOWPOKE safety philosophy which permits unattended operation is not affected.