Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

CANDU - A proven system ready to meet tomorrow's challenge

Conference · · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5277657

The performance and essential characteristics of the CANDU-PHW nuclear steam generating system are described. Fundamental choices of heavy water as coolant and moderator and natural uranium as fuel together with a pressure tube design have resulted in a system with high capacity factors, good economics and excellent fuel utilization. The versatility of CANDU, which results from its inherent neutron economy, provides an opportunity for CANDU to meet the challenge of tomorrow using even more resource-efficient thorium fuel cycles. Introduction of CANDU thorium fuel cycles will depend on the future price of uranium resources. However, it is shown that CANDU can match the resource utilization of the fast breeder reactor.

Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario
OSTI ID:
5277657
Report Number(s):
CONF-830812-
Journal Information:
Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN PIECD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English