Dr. Jeremy WhitlockDr. Jeremy WhitlockAtomic Energy of Canada Ltd.Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.Canadian Nuclear Society Canadian Nuclear Society

Dr. Jeremy WhitlockDr. Jeremy WhitlockAtomic Energy of Canada Ltd.Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.Canadian Nuclear Society Canadian Nuclear Society

Splitting Splitting Atoms, Atoms, Canadian Canadian StyleStyle

Splitting Splitting Atoms, Atoms, Canadian Canadian StyleStyle

CNS Seminar on CNS Seminar on Canada’s Nuclear Technology Canada’s Nuclear Technology UOIT, Oshawa, October 15UOIT, Oshawa, October 15thth, , 2009 2009

CNS Seminar on CNS Seminar on Canada’s Nuclear Technology Canada’s Nuclear Technology UOIT, Oshawa, October 15UOIT, Oshawa, October 15thth, , 2009 2009

(Other nine: CPR railway, St. Lawrence seaway, Polymer Corp. synthetic rubber, oil sands development, Hydro Quebec HV transmission system, Beaver aircraft, Alouette satellite, Bombardier snowmobile, trans-Canada telephone network) (Other nine: CPR railway, St. Lawrence seaway, Polymer Corp. synthetic rubber, oil sands development, Hydro Quebec HV transmission system, Beaver aircraft, Alouette satellite, Bombardier snowmobile, trans-Canada telephone network)

“One of Canada’s top ten engineering achievements of the past century”

“One of Canada’s top ten engineering achievements of the past century”

Canadian engineering centennial, 1987Canadian engineering centennial, 1987

C A N D UC A N D UThe Canadian ReactorThe Canadian Reactor

that Couldthat Couldand still Canand still Can

In the beginning …In the beginning …

Otto Hahn, 26 yrs. old (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1944) Otto Hahn, 26 yrs. old (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1944)

Ernest RutherfordErnest Rutherford

McGill UniversityDescribes radioactivity, half-lifeNobel Prize in Chemistry, 1908

McGill UniversityDescribes radioactivity, half-lifeNobel Prize in Chemistry, 1908

McGill University, 1905McGill University, 1905

1898-1907 …1898-1907 …

Nuclear structure of atomsNuclear structure of atoms

1910 …1910 …

First artificial transmutation: 14N + 4He 17O + pFirst artificial transmutation: 14N + 4He 17O + p

1919 …1919 …

Ernest RutherfordErnest Rutherford(1871 - 1937)(1871 - 1937)

“If it were ever possible to control at will the

rate of disintegration of the radio-elements,

an enormous amount of energy could be

obtained from a small amount of matter”

“If it were ever possible to control at will the

rate of disintegration of the radio-elements,

an enormous amount of energy could be

obtained from a small amount of matter”

Ernest Rutherford, 1904Ernest Rutherford, 1904

1930 …1930 …Gilbert LabineGilbert Labine

(1890 - 1977)(1890 - 1977)

Discovery of uranium at Great Bear LakeDiscovery of uranium at Great Bear Lake

Port Hope refinery, 1933Port Hope refinery, 1933

1932 …1932 …

John Cockroft, Ernest Rutherford, Ernest WaltonJohn Cockroft, Ernest Rutherford, Ernest Walton

First to “split the atom”: 7Li + p 4He + 4He

Nobel Prize in Physics: 1951

First to “split the atom”: 7Li + p 4He + 4He

Nobel Prize in Physics: 1951

Cockroft and Walton’s 1932 acceleratorCockroft and Walton’s 1932 accelerator

John CockroftJohn Cockroft(1897 - 1967)(1897 - 1967)

Ernest WaltonErnest Walton(1903 - 1995)(1903 - 1995)

Discovers the neutron, 1932Nobel Prize in Physics, 1935Discovers the neutron, 1932Nobel Prize in Physics, 1935

Start of the Neutron Transmutation BandwagonStart of the Neutron Transmutation Bandwagon

# pr

oton

s

# neutrons

?

James ChadwickJames Chadwick1932 …1932 …

(1891 - 1974)(1891 - 1974)

“The energy produced by the breaking

down of the atom is a very poor kind of

thing. Anyone who expects a source of

power from the transformation of these

atoms is talking moonshine”

“The energy produced by the breaking

down of the atom is a very poor kind of

thing. Anyone who expects a source of

power from the transformation of these

atoms is talking moonshine” Sir Ernest Rutherford, 1933Sir Ernest Rutherford, 1933

(1871 - 1937)(1871 - 1937)

1939 …1939 …

(Hahn, Strassmann, Meitner, Frisch) (Hahn, Strassmann, Meitner, Frisch)

(Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo)(Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo)September: WAR!September: WAR!

January: FISSION!January: FISSION!

1940 …1940 …

Hans von HalbanHans von Halban

Lew KowarskiLew Kowarski

Have heavy water, will travelHave heavy water, will travel

100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa

World’s first large-scale fission experiments in graphite World’s first large-scale fission experiments in graphite

1941-42 …1941-42 …

George LaurenceGeorge Laurence(1905 - 1987)(1905 - 1987)

(National Research Council)(National Research Council)

“Okay, let’s go!”“Okay, let’s go!”Aug. 17, 1942 …Aug. 17, 1942 …

C.D. HoweCdn. Wartime Minister of Munitions & SupplyC.D. HoweCdn. Wartime Minister of Munitions & Supply

C.D. Howe(1886 – 1960)C.D. Howe(1886 – 1960)

G.C. Laurence, C.D. Howe, C.J. Mackenzie, J.D. CockroftG.C. Laurence, C.D. Howe, C.J. Mackenzie, J.D. Cockroft

Aug., 1945Aug., 1945

First self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reactionFirst self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction

Enrico FermiEnrico Fermi(1901 - 1954)(1901 - 1954)

Nobel Prize in Physics: 1938Nobel Prize in Physics: 1938

Dec. 2, 1942 …Dec. 2, 1942 …

Chicago: December 2, 1942

“Montreal Group”“Montreal Group”

1943 …1943 …

(NRC, at U. of Montreal)(NRC, at U. of Montreal)

George LaurenceGeorge Laurence

John CockroftJohn Cockroft

1944 …1944 …Chalk River LaboratoriesChalk River Laboratories

1945 …1945 … ZEEP: first reactor to reachcriticality outside the U.S.A.ZEEP: first reactor to reachcriticality outside the U.S.A.

Lew KowarskiLew Kowarski

Chalk River: September 5, 1945Chalk River: September 5, 1945

Canada in 1945:Canada in 1945:

• Second largest nuclear infrastructure on the planet

• Atomic bomb knowledge

• World experts on heavy-water reactor

• Uranium supplies

• World’s most powerful research reactor (NRX) under construction

• Second largest nuclear infrastructure on the planet

• Atomic bomb knowledge

• World experts on heavy-water reactor

• Uranium supplies

• World’s most powerful research reactor (NRX) under construction

… WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE…?… WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE…?

NRU (1957)NRU (1957)

Canada’s Choice: Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Energy

Canada’s Choice: Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Energy

NRX (1947)NRX (1947)

A Mecca for nuclear researchA Mecca for nuclear research

1951 …1951 …

“The Atom Bomb That Saves Lives”“The Atom Bomb That Saves Lives”Maclean’s Magazine, 1952Maclean’s Magazine, 1952

University of SaskatchewanUniversity of SaskatchewanUniversity of Western OntarioUniversity of Western Ontario

FIRST PATIENT: 27 Oct, 1951FIRST PATIENT: 27 Oct, 1951 FIRST PATIENT: 8 Nov, 1951FIRST PATIENT: 8 Nov, 1951

COBALT CANCER THERAPYCOBALT CANCER THERAPY

1952 …1952 …

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.

1950’s …1950’s …

Bertram BrockhouseBertram BrockhouseNobel Prize in Physics, 1994

Triple Axis Spectrometer, 1958Triple Axis Spectrometer, 1958

Tandem Accelerator, 1959Tandem Accelerator, 1959

Ted Litherland, Allan Bromley, Harry Gove

Dec. 12, 1952 …Dec. 12, 1952 … NRX AccidentNRX AccidentPartial meltdown of corePartial meltdown of core

Demonstrated that a major reactor accident need not be a disasterDemonstrated that a major reactor accident need not be a disaster

Taught many lessons about reactorsafety, and made Canada world leaderin this area

Taught many lessons about reactorsafety, and made Canada world leaderin this area

George Laurence:George Laurence:

1956: Chair of ReactorSafety Advisory Committee1956: Chair of ReactorSafety Advisory Committee

1961-1970: 2nd President of Atomic Energy Control Board1961-1970: 2nd President of Atomic Energy Control Board

1957 …1957 …

Follows Eisenhower’s 1953 “Atoms for Peace” speechFollows Eisenhower’s 1953 “Atoms for Peace” speech

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)International Atomic

Energy Agency (IAEA)

Canada instrumentalin establishing IAEACanada instrumentalin establishing IAEA

1959 …1959 …McMaster Nuclear ReactorMcMaster Nuclear Reactor

1962 …1962 …

Nuclear Power DemonstrationNuclear Power DemonstrationRolphton, Ontario: June 4, 1962Rolphton, Ontario: June 4, 1962

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.

Ontario Hydro-Electric Power CommissionOntario Hydro-Electric Power Commission

Canadian General ElectricCanadian General Electric

• The driving forcedriving force behind the application of nuclear science to electricity production.

• Canada decides to build its program on its attained expertise: natural-uraniumnatural-uranium fuel and heavy-waterheavy-water moderator.

• The driving forcedriving force behind the application of nuclear science to electricity production.

• Canada decides to build its program on its attained expertise: natural-uraniumnatural-uranium fuel and heavy-waterheavy-water moderator. W.B. LewisW.B. Lewis::

““The father of The father of CANDUCANDU””

Wilfrid Bennett (W.B.) LewisWilfrid Bennett (W.B.) Lewis(1908 - 1987)(1908 - 1987)

• 1958: AECL creates Nuclear Power Plant Division in Toronto

• Later renamed Power Projects, then Engineering Company, then AECL CANDU, then AECL Sheridan Park

• 1966: First plant project of Power Division starts up (“first critical”): Douglas Point (40 years ago this year)

• 1958: AECL creates Nuclear Power Plant Division in Toronto

• Later renamed Power Projects, then Engineering Company, then AECL CANDU, then AECL Sheridan Park

• 1966: First plant project of Power Division starts up (“first critical”): Douglas Point (40 years ago this year)

AECL and Power Plant DesignAECL and Power Plant Design

Pickering, Ontario(1971-73, 1983-86)Pickering, Ontario(1971-73, 1983-86) Darlington, Ontario (1990-93)Darlington, Ontario (1990-93)

Bruce, Ontario(1977-79, 1985-87)

Bruce, Ontario(1977-79, 1985-87)

Pt. Lepreau, New Brunswick(1983)

Pt. Lepreau, New Brunswick(1983)

Gentilly 1 and 2, Quebec(1971, 1983)

Gentilly 1 and 2, Quebec(1971, 1983)

Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD), Ontario (1962)

Nuclear Power Demonstration (NPD), Ontario (1962)

CANDUin

Canada

CANDUin

Canada Douglas Point, Ontario (1966)

Douglas Point, Ontario (1966)

CANDUaround

the world

CANDUaround

the world

Wolsong, South Korea(1982, 1997-99)

Wolsong, South Korea(1982, 1997-99)

Embalse, Argentina (1984)Embalse, Argentina (1984)

Cernavoda, Romania(1996, 2007, …?)

Cernavoda, Romania(1996, 2007, …?)

Rajasthan, India(1973, 1982)

Rajasthan, India(1973, 1982)

Kanupp, Pakistan (1972)Kanupp, Pakistan (1972)

Qinshan, China(2002-03)

Qinshan, China(2002-03)

 A Canadian Gift to the World: Cancer Therapy and Nuclear Medicine

 A Canadian Gift to the World: Cancer Therapy and Nuclear Medicine

Chalk River LaboratoriesChalk River LaboratoriesYOU ARE HEREYOU ARE HERE

NRU Research Reactor(AECL Chalk River)

NRU Research Reactor(AECL Chalk River)

Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR-1000)

Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR-1000)

• Optimizes the CANDU product• More efficient and cost-effective• Light water coolant, heavy-water moderator• Maintains all advantages of heavy-water reactor• Competes against advanced fossil and reactor designs

• Optimizes the CANDU product• More efficient and cost-effective• Light water coolant, heavy-water moderator• Maintains all advantages of heavy-water reactor• Competes against advanced fossil and reactor designs

ONTARIO:ONTARIO:Refurbishment, new-buildRefurbishment, new-build

NEW BRUNSWICK:NEW BRUNSWICK:Refurbishment, new-buildRefurbishment, new-build

ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN:ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN:The NEW NUCLEAR FRONTIER?The NEW NUCLEAR FRONTIER?

NUCLEAR NORTH OF 60?NUCLEAR NORTH OF 60?

QUEBEC:QUEBEC:RefurbishmentRefurbishment

Perceptions are changing?Perceptions are changing?

It’s still about good peopleIt’s still about good people

NPD design team (CAPD), Peterborough, 1955NPD design team (CAPD), Peterborough, 1955

doing good workdoing good work

““Canadian Nuclear FAQ”:Canadian Nuclear FAQ”: www.nuclearfaq.cawww.nuclearfaq.ca

Thank youThank you

Canadian Nuclear Society:Canadian Nuclear Society: www.cns-snc.cawww.cns-snc.ca