Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor

Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) is a type of nuclear reactor designed and used in the United Kingdom, where they are the primary design for nuclear power generation. The AGR was developed from the Magnox reactor, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of the nuclear power process.

Design and Operation

The AGR is a Generation II reactor, which uses graphite as the neutron moderator and carbon dioxide as the coolant. The fuel used in AGRs is enriched uranium, encased in stainless steel fuel cladding. The design of the AGR aims to operate at higher temperatures than other types of reactors, which increases the thermal efficiency of the power station.

The AGR design also includes multiple safety systems, such as a secondary shutdown system and a containment building to prevent the release of radioactive materials in the event of an accident.

History

The first AGR power station, Dungeness B, began operation in 1983. Since then, a total of 14 AGR reactors have been built in the UK, all of which are still in operation as of 2021.

Future

The future of the AGR is uncertain, as the reactors are reaching the end of their operational lives. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is responsible for the decommissioning of the AGRs, a process which is expected to take several decades.

See also

• Nuclear power in the United Kingdom
• List of nuclear reactors
• Pressurized water reactor
• Boiling water reactor

References

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