Atomic Energy of Canada Limited or AECL is a Canadian federal Crown corporation with the responsibility of managing Canada's national nuclear energy research and development program, including the advancement and support of CANDU reactor technology which was developed at AECL starting in the 1950s. AECL also provides a variety of maintenance, diagnostic, waste management, refurbishment, and other services to the nuclear industry. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... In Commonwealth countries a Crown corporation is a state-controlled company or enterprise (a public corporation). ... For the First Nation, see Mississaugas. ... A nuclear power station. ... For the album by the Kaiser Chiefs see Employment (album) Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. ... A website (alternatively, Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on a Web server, usually accessible via the Internet or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML, that is almost always accessible via HTTP, a... In Commonwealth countries a Crown corporation is a state-controlled company or enterprise (a public corporation). ... A nuclear power station. ... The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water, natural-uranium power reactor designed in the 1960s by a partnership between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario as well as several private industry participants. ...

AECL describes its mandate as follows:

• Managing the Canadian nuclear platform responsibly and cost effectively.
• Leveraging the technology base to deliver nuclear products and services to market.

AECL is also the vendor of CANDU technology, which it has exported worldwide. Throughout the 1960s-2000s AECL marketed and built CANDU facilities in India, South Korea, Argentina, Romania, and China. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 2000s are the current decade, spanning from 2000 to 2009. ...

In addition, AECL manufactures nuclear medicine radioisotopes for supply to MDS Nordion in Ottawa, Canada, and is the world's largest supplier of Molybedenum-99 for diagnostic tests, and Cobalt-60 for cancer therapy. Shown above is the bone scintigraphy of a young woman. ... A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus. ... Motto: Advance Ottawa/Ottawa en avant Location of the City of Ottawa in the Province of Ontario Coordinates: Country Canada Province Ontario Established 1850 as Town of Bytown Incorporated 1855 as City of Ottawa Amalgamated January 1, 2001 Government  - Mayor Larry OBrien  - City Council Ottawa City Council  - Representatives 8... Cobalt 60 is a Front 242 side project featuring Front 242s Jean-Luc de Meyer and Dominique Lallement. ... Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ...

AECL is funded through a combination of federal government appropriations and commercial revenue.

History

1940s

AECL traces its heritage to the Second World War when a joint Canadian-British nuclear research laboratory was established in Montreal in 1942, under the National Research Council of Canada to develop a design for a nuclear reactor. [1] In 1944, approval was given by the federal government to begin with construction of the ZEEP (Zero Energy Experimental Pile) reactor at the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories near Chalk River, Ontario, located on the Ottawa River approximately 190 km northwest of Ottawa. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... This article needs cleanup. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is Canadas leading organization for scientific research and development. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... It has been suggested that Chalk river unidentified deposits be merged into this article or section. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 4th... This is about the river in Canada. ... This article is about the capital city of Canada. ...

On September 5, 1945 the ZEEP reactor first went critical, achieving the first "self-sustained nuclear reaction outside the United States."[2] ZEEP put Canada at the forefront of nuclear research in the world and was the instigator behind eventual development of the CANDU reactors, ZEEP having operated as a research reactor until the early 1970s. September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... The ZEEP (Zero Energy Experimental Pile) reactor was a nuclear reactor built at the Chalk River Laboratories near Chalk River, Ontario, Canada. ... The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water, natural-uranium power reactor designed in the 1960s by a partnership between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario as well as several private industry participants. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ...

In 1946 the Montreal research laboratory was closed and research was consolidated at Chalk River Laboratories. On July 22, 1947 the NRX (National Research Experimental) reactor, the most powerful reactor in the world at the time, went critical and was "used successfully for producing radioisotopes, undertaking fuels and materials development work for CANDU reactors, and providing neutrons for physics experiments."[3] 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water, natural-uranium power reactor designed in the 1960s by a partnership between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario as well as several private industry participants. ...

1950s

In 1952 AECL was formed by the government with a mandate to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy. 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

On December 12, 1952 one of the world's first major reactor accidents occurred in the NRX reactor at AECL's Chalk River Laboratories, when a combination of human and mechanical error led to a temporary loss of control over the reactor's power level. Undercooling of the fuel channels led to a partial meltdown. This caused a hydrogen-oxygen explosion inside the calandria. Several fuel bundles experienced melting and ruptured, rendering much of the core interior unusable. The reactor building was contaminated, as well as an area of the Chalk River site, and millions of gallons of radioactive water accumulated in the reactor basement. This water was pumped to a waste management area of the Laboratories and monitored. Hundreds of military personnel from Canada and the U.S. (including naval officer and later U.S. President, Lt. James "Jimmy" Carter) were employed in the cleanup and disposal of the reactor debris.[4] December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... NRX was a heavy water moderated, light water cooled, nuclear research reactor at the Canadian Chalk River Laboratories, which experienced one of the worlds first major reactor accidents 12 December 1952. ... A nuclear meltdown occurs when the core of a nuclear reactor melts. ... James Earl Jimmy Carter, Jr. ...

The NRX was repaired, upgraded, and returned to service 14 months later and operated for another 40 years, finally being shut down in 1992. Throughout the 1950s the NRX was used by many researchers in the pioneering fields of neutron condensed matter physics, including Dr. Bertram Brockhouse, who shared the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in developing the neutron scattering techniques. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Bertram Neville Brockhouse (July 15, 1918 – October 13, 2003) was a Nobel prize-winning Canadian physicist. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Hannes Alfvén (1908–1995) accepting the Nobel Prize for his work on magnetohydrodynamics [1]. List of Nobel Prize laureates in Physics from 1901 to the present day. ...

On November 3, 1957 the NRU (National Research Universal) reactor first went critical. This is a natural-uranium, heavy-water-moderated and heavy-water-cooled research reactor which is a world-renowned research facility, producing about 60% of the world's supply of molybdenum-99, the principle isotope used for nuclear medical diagnosis. Canada also pioneered use of Cobalt-60 for medical diagnosis in 1951 and currently the NRU reactor produces the medical-use Cobalt-60, while selected CANDU reactors produce industrial-use Cobalt-60, comprising 85% of the world's supply. November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... NRU (National Research Universal) reactor opperated by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is a research reactor that is still considered one of the worlds finest for its versatility and high neutron flux. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water, natural-uranium power reactor designed in the 1960s by a partnership between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario as well as several private industry participants. ...

On May 24, 1958 the NRU suffered a major accident. A damaged uranium fuel rod caught fire and was torn in two as it was being removed from the core, due to inadequate cooling. The fire was extinguished, but not before releasing a sizeable quantity of radioactive combustion products that contaminated the interior of the reactor building and, to a lesser degree, an area of the surrounding laboratory site. Over 600 people were employed in the clean-up.[5][6] May 24 is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A few men were over-exposed to radiation, but no direct injuries resulted from AECL's two accidents.

1960s

In 1954 AECL partnered with the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario to build Canada's first nuclear power plant at Rolphton, Ontario, which is 30km upstream from Chalk River. On June 4, 1962 the NPD (Nuclear Power Demonstration) first reactor went critical to demonstrate the CANDU concept, generating about 20 MWe. In 1963, AECL established the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment (now Whiteshell Laboratories) in Pinawa, Manitoba where an organic-cooled and organic-operated research reactor was built. Later work on developing a Slow Poke reactor, Thorium Fuel Cycle and a Proposal; for safe storage of Nuclear waste was carried out at this site Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario was established in 1906 by the provincial Power Commission Act to build transmission lines to supply municipal utilities with electricity generated by private companies already operating at Niagara Falls. ... A nuclear power station. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... The Nuclear Power Demonstration (or NPD) was the prototype CANDU reactor. ... The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water, natural-uranium power reactor designed in the 1960s by a partnership between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario as well as several private industry participants. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... In 1963, the Government of Canada established a AECL research laboratory in Pinawa, Manitoba, the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment, now Whiteshell Laboratories. ... Pinawa is a small Canadian community located in southeastern Manitoba, east of Winnipeg. ... Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Latin: Glorious and free) Capital Winnipeg Largest city Winnipeg Official languages English and French, per mandate of the Constitution Act 1982 Government - Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard - Premier Gary Doer (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 15, 1870 (5th...

AECL built a larger CANDU prototype (200 MWe) at Douglas Point on Lake Huron, first going critical on November 15, 1966. Douglas Point was the second CANDU PHWR built, after the successful Nuclear Power Demonstrator(NPD). ...

1970s

In 1971 the first commercial CANDU reactor, Pickering A 1, began commercial operation. By 1973 the other three reactors of the A group at Pickering were online and constituted the most powerful nuclear facility in the world at that time. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water, natural-uranium power reactor designed in the 1960s by a partnership between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario as well as several private industry participants. ... Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located in Pickering, Ontario. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

On May 18, 1974, India detonated a nuclear bomb made from plutonium manufactured by the CIRUS research reactor built by AECL in 1956, which was a commercial version of its NRX research reactor. In addition AECL built two power reactors in India based on the Douglas Point design, and many of India's other reactors are domestic variants of this design. The connection between India's nuclear weapons program and its CIRUS research reactor led to a severance of nuclear technological cooperation between Canada and India. [7] May 18 is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... CIRUS (Canadian-Indian-U.S.) reactor. ... NRX was a heavy water moderated, light water cooled, nuclear research reactor at the Canadian Chalk River Laboratories, which experienced one of the worlds first major reactor accidents 12 December 1952. ...

In 1977-1978 the Bruce A group went online and began commercial operation. In 1978, Whiteshell Labs began research into fuel waste disposal. Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Bruce Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located in Tiverton, Ontario. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

1980s

Between 1983-1986 the Pickering B group went online and also in 1983 the single CANDU reactor at Point Lepreau began operation, as did the Gentilly 2 CANDU reactor. Between 1984-1987 the Bruce B group began commercial operation and also in 1987 the CANDU design was ranked one of Canada's top-10 engineering achievements. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water, natural-uranium power reactor designed in the 1960s by a partnership between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario as well as several private industry participants. ... Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located in Point Lepreau, New Brunswick. ... Gentilly Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located in Becancour, Quebec. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Between 1985-1987 a software bug in AECL's Therac-25 medical accelerator caused massive overdoses of radiation on 6 different occasions, resulting in five deaths. In 1987 the machine was found defective by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recalled by AECL. The software had not been included in the original safety analysis of the machine. 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Therac-25 was a radiation therapy machine produced by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... FDA logo The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, biological medical products, blood products, medical devices, radiation-emitting devices, veterinary products, and cosmetics in the United States. ...

1990s

Between 1990-1993 the 4 CANDU reactors at Darlington went online and represent the most recent reactor construction in Canada. MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water, natural-uranium power reactor designed in the 1960s by a partnership between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario as well as several private industry participants. ... Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian electrical generating station located in Bowmanville, Ontario. ...

In 1991, AECL decided to spin-off its medical isotope production business under the name Nordion International Inc. The unit was sold to MDS Health Group and now operates under the name MDS Nordion 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MDS Inc. ...

With a contract signed in 1991, AECL, in partnership with MDS Nordion, began construction of the MAPLE dedicated isotope-production facility. Constructed on-site at AECL's Chalk River Laboratories this facility will house two reactors and an isotope processing facility. Each reactor is designed to be able to produce at least 100% of the world's medical isotopes, meaning that the second reactor will be used as a back-up to ensure an uninterupptable supply. Although slated to be commissioned in 2000, construction and licensing delays have so far prevented the facility from opening (As of June, 2005). 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Distribution Species See List of Acer species Maples are trees or shrubs in the genus Acer. ... It has been suggested that Chalk river unidentified deposits be merged into this article or section. ... Shown above is the bone scintigraphy of a young woman. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Unit 1 of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned on December 02, 1996. Rated at 706 MWe, it currently supplies approximately 10% of Romania's electrical needs. It will be Romania's sole nuclear power plant until Unit 2 is completed by AECL in 2007. The nuclear power plant. ...

In the late 1990s, several reactors were built by AECL in South Korea. Wolsong 2 was commissioned July 1, 1997. Wolsong 3 was commissioned on July 1, 1998. Wolsong 4 was commissioned Oct. 1, 1999. All three reactors were rated at 715MWe Gross Output. They currently have some of the highest lifetime capacity factors of nuclear reactors.

2000s - present

In 2001, AECL began tests at Chalk River Labs to determine the feasibility of using surplus MOX (mixed oxide) fuel from the Russian and U.S. defence programs (which contains plutonium) as a fuel in CANDU facilities. Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from...

Currently, AECL is developing the Advanced CANDU Reactor, or "ACR". This design is meant to improve upon the commercial CANDU 6 design in terms of capital cost and construction schedule, while maintaining the classic design and safety characteristics of the CANDU concept. The Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR) is an AECL Technologies’ design and is the evolutionary development of existing CANDU reactors. ...

Cernavoda Unit 2 began operation on May 6, 2007. Preparatory work required for the completion of Units 3 and 4 is scheduled to begin by the end of 2007. May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (127th in leap years). ...

The Province of Ontario has announced plans to build a new nuclear station. The leading candidate is AECL's Advanced CANDU Reactor. Environmental assessments are currently underway at Bruce Power's Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Tiverton and a site next to Ontario Power Generation's Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. The Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR) is an AECL Technologies’ design and is the evolutionary development of existing CANDU reactors. ... Bruce Power Inc. ... Bruce Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located in Tiverton, Ontario. ... Tiverton is a town in the County of Devon, in England. ... Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is a public company whose shares are wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. ... Darlington Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian electrical generating station located in Bowmanville, Ontario. ...

References

• Leveson, Nancy G.; Turner, Clark S. (July, 1993) An Investigation of the Therac-25 Accidents. Computer 26 (7), 18-41.
• Whitlock, Jeremy J., "The Canadian Nuclear FAQ" [8]

Whitlock is a surname of Old English origin, meaning “white enclosure” from Old English hwit “white” and locc “lock, enclosure”. Whitlock refers to: Persons Albert Whitlock (1915–1999), English motion picture matte artist Billy Whitlock (1813–1878), American blackface performer Bobby Whitlock (b. ...

External link

• Official site