Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor

Torness Power Station - geograph.org.uk - 1777307

AGR reactor schematic

Gen II nuclear reactor vessels sizes

Dungenesspowerstation (cropped)

Heysham Nuclear Power Station, Lancashire

Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor
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Reactor type	Gas-cooled reactor
Main parameters of the reactor core
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Primary moderator	Graphite
Primary coolant	Carbon dioxide
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An Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) is a type of nuclear reactor that uses carbon dioxide as a coolant and graphite as a moderator. The AGR was developed in the United Kingdom as a successor to the Magnox reactor and is primarily used for generating electricity.

Design and Operation

The AGR design features a graphite moderator and a carbon dioxide coolant. The fuel used in AGRs is uranium dioxide pellets, which are enriched to a higher level than those used in Magnox reactors. The fuel is contained in stainless steel cladding, which allows for higher operating temperatures and improved thermal efficiency.

The reactor core is composed of a large graphite block with channels drilled through it to accommodate the fuel assemblies and coolant flow. The carbon dioxide coolant is circulated through the core, where it absorbs heat from the fuel. The heated gas then passes through a heat exchanger, where it transfers its heat to water, producing steam. This steam drives a turbine connected to a generator, producing electricity.

Safety Features

AGRs incorporate several safety features, including:

• A robust containment structure to prevent the release of radioactive materials.
• Multiple redundant cooling systems to ensure the reactor can be safely shut down in the event of an emergency.
• A negative temperature coefficient of reactivity, which means that the reactor's power output decreases as the temperature increases, providing inherent safety.

History

The first AGR, the Dungeness B reactor, began construction in the 1960s and became operational in the 1980s. Several other AGRs were subsequently built in the UK, including the Hinkley Point B, Hunterston B, and Torness reactors. These reactors have provided a significant portion of the UK's electricity supply for several decades.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• Higher thermal efficiency compared to Magnox reactors.
• Use of enriched uranium allows for longer fuel cycles and higher burn-up rates.
• Robust safety features and containment structures.

Disadvantages

• Complex design and construction, leading to higher initial costs.
• Longer construction times compared to other reactor types.
• Limited to the UK, with no significant international deployment.

Related Pages

• Nuclear power
• Nuclear reactor
• Magnox reactor
• Graphite-moderated reactor
• Carbon dioxide
• Electricity generation

See Also

• List of nuclear reactors
• Nuclear power in the United Kingdom
• Nuclear safety

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