The following information bulletin is in accordance with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL) ongoing commitment to voluntary public disclosure of events related to the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL).
Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) inspections of the NRU reactor using the Mark II tool are now complete and a large quantity of data has been obtained for analysis. The Mark II tool inspected those areas of the reactor vessel that were previously inaccessible. AECL’s NDE team has begun the third stage of examinations beginning with training on a special tool for vertical inspection. NDE activities remain on schedule.
Work continues with vendors on proving repair tooling designs and fabrication of the equipment. Qualification testing of the repair tools will be required following manufacture.
Testing of the repair processes and tools continue using the full height NRU mock-up in the former NRX facility at Chalk River Laboratories.
Guidance on the duration of the shutdown continues to be founded on the best evidence available, including the most up-to-date analysis of the inspection data, progress on repair strategies, and critical path requirements for restart after an extended shutdown. At this time, the application of the band weld build-up technique, and the number of identified repair sites, indicates the NRU will return to service during Q1 2010. Further guidance on a return to service date will be provided when more information becomes available.
Evidence collected to date continues to support AECL’s view that the necessary vessel repairs can be made and that NRU will be returned to service.
AECL continues to work closely with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), and CNSC safety inspectors are directly involved at the Chalk River site. AECL will appear before the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission on August 27 to provide an update on the NRU repair and return to service status.
There is no threat to workers, the public, the environment or nuclear safety related to this event.
More information on the return to service of NRU is available at nrucanada.ca, including two new video status updates by AECL’s President & CEO Hugh MacDiarmid and NRU Return to Service Project Director, David Cox. The videos provide insight on AECL’s return to service critical path and footage of the NRU mock-up facility.