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CND // DECOMMISSIONING IN EUROPE / DECOMMISSIONING PROJECTS IN EUROPE / WAGR |
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Decommissioning Projects in Europe WAGR Pilot Dismantling Project  The European Commission selected The Windscale Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (WAGR) (Sellafield, United Kingdom) as a pilot dismantling project for its R&D Programme on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations. The WAGR was built and operated by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. WAGR was an industrial scale development model for British AGR nuclear power stations. The 100 MWth reactor ceased operation in 1981 after of successful operations. A decision was made to decommission WAGR to Stage III, hence returning to green field status. Short history
DescriptionIn Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor, the cooling agent is CO2 and the moderator is made of graphite bricks with channels that allows to insert uranium fuel elements. The reactor is cased in a steel-lined pre-stressed concrete pressure vessel several metres thick which also acts as the biological shield, with the boilers inside. 
Figure 1. By courtesy Scottish Nuclear 
Figure 2. Windscale Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor core By means of boilers, the heat from the fission process converts the cooling water into steam. It is then sent to the turbine which transforms the steam expansion in mechanical energy. By means of the driven shaft, the turbine drives the generator that, in turn, produces electrical energy. A water circuit sourced from sea or river cools and condenses the steam coming out the turbine. The water can be reheated into the boilers and the cycle can start again. An important difference exists between Pressurised Water Reactor and AGR. In the case of the PWR, the water plays the role of the coolant and the moderator as well. With this feature, PWR have a more compact core than AGR. Scottish Nuclear provides a nice tour of AGR facility with detailed technical information. Fig. 2 shows a drawing of the Windscale Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor core. Further information |
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