The Canadian Nuclear FAQ - Dr. Jeremy Whitlock

www.nuclearfaq.ca

The Canadian Nuclear FAQ<br>-->

by Dr. Jeremy Whitlock

"Frequently-asked questions" (FAQs) about Canadian nuclear science and technology.

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— Site last updated:<br>2026-03-12

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Tonnes of air pollution and GHGs avoided in Canada<br>by nuclear power each year:

air pollution<br>6,770,000 -->

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Introduction and Disclaimer

--><br>This website, established in April 1996, is an unofficial and<br>privately-maintained list of Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQ's) regarding<br>CANDU reactors and nuclear power generation in Canada. It is designed to<br>meet general as well as technical interest needs. The FAQ's and their<br>answers are compiled by the author, and do not<br>necessarily represent the official views of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.<br>(AECL), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), the Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS), nor any other component of the<br>Canadian nuclear industry.

The information given here is in the public domain. It is meant to complement the<br>wealth of nuclear-related information already on the Web. For example,<br>good introductions to nuclear power in general can be found in John<br>McCarthy's Nuclear Energy FAQ or Joseph Gonyeau's Virtual Nuclear<br>Tourist. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab's excellent ABCs of Nuclear<br>Science and Particle Adventure websites summarize the physics of<br>radioactive decay and subatomic particle theory. For an excellent overview of<br>nuclear and other areas of physics governing our natural world (including some great<br>science fair ideas), visit Georgia State University's "HyperPhysics" website. Other relevant<br>links can be found in Section J: Further<br>Information.

Contributions (questions and/or answers) and comments are welcome. Please<br>send to the author, Dr. Jeremy Whitlock , at<br>">jeremyjwhitlock@gmail.com. Text<br>is copyrighted by<br>Jeremy Whitlock, but can be quoted if properly credited to the author.<br>Unless noted otherwise, images are from public literature published by<br>AECL, Ontario Power Generation Inc. (formerly Ontario Hydro), and other<br>members of the Canadian nuclear industry.

Explanation of graphics on this page: The header graphic at<br>top right shows symbolically a maple leaf superimposed over a CANDU<br>containment building on the shore of a Canadian waterway (there are no<br>cooling towers used with Canadian power reactors). This logo was first used by the Annual Conference of the Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS) in 1990. The main graphic above depicts a beaver with the Canadian flag upon a CANDU fuel bundle – three symbols of<br>Canadian industriousness and pride. The CANDU fuel bundle pictured weighs<br>23 kg, is about the size of a fire log, and produces enough electricity<br>to power 100 average Canadian homes for a year. A CANDU reactor contains several thousand similar-looking bundles.

How is Ontario's electricity being generated right now?<br>Click here to find out!

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MAIN INDEX

[A. CANDU Technology]<br>[B. The Industry]<br>[C. Cost/Benefit]<br>[D. Safety/Liability]<br>[E. Waste]<br>[F. Security/Non-Proliferation]<br>[G. Uranium]<br>[H. Research Reactors]<br>[I. Other R&D]<br>[J. Further Info]

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A. &nbsp

CANDU Nuclear Power Technology &nbsp

A.1

What does "CANDU" mean?

A.2

How does a CANDU reactor work?

A.3

What is "nuclear fission"?

A.4

Where does the first neutron come from in a fission chain reaction?

A.5

What is "heavy water"?

A.6

How does a CANDU reactor refuel on-power?

A.7

How is fission energy converted to electrical energy in<br>CANDU plants?

A.8

How many different CANDU designs are there?

A.9

How do CANDU reactors rank in performance against other<br>designs?

A.10

How do CANDU reactors achieve high neutron economy?

A.11

What fuel cycles can CANDU reactors adapt to?

A.12

What is CANFLEX fuel?

A.13

What is the<br>"Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR)?"

A.14

What is the "Enhanced CANDU-6 Reactor" (EC6)?

A.15

How are CANDU reactors controlled?

A.16

How is core refurbishment part of CANDU life management?

A.17

Can CANDU reactors perform load following?

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B.

The Nuclear Industry in Canada &nbsp

B.1

Why did Canada develop its own, quite different, reactor design?

B.2

How much nuclear electricity is produced in Canada?

B.3

Where is nuclear power generated in Canada?

B.4

How many CANDU reactors are there in the world?

B.5

Is nuclear power being privatized in Canada?

B.6

How are CANDU reactor exports financed?

B.7

Who are the members of the Canadian nuclear industry?

B.8

What was Canada's first nuclear power plant?

B.9

Why were seven CANDU reactors shut down for refurbishment in...