Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

About: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is a company organization based out in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Neutron & Zirconium alloy. The organization has 4845 authors who have published 4826 publications receiving 102951 citations.

Rapid determination of 90 Sr/ 90 Y in water samples by liquid scintillation and Cherenkov counting

Abstract: Strontium-90 ( 90 Sr) is a ubiquitous contaminant at nuclear facilities, found at high concentrations in spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Due to its long half-life and ability to be transported in groundwater, an accurate method for measuring 90 Sr in water samples is critical to the monitoring program of any nuclear facility. To address this need, a rapid procedure for sequential separation of Sr/ Y was developed and tested in groundwater samples col- lected from an area of riverbed affected by a 90 Sr groundwater plume. Sixteen samples, plus spike and water blanks, were analyzed. Five different measurements were performed to determine the 90 Sr and yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) activities in the samples: direct triple-to-double-coin- cidence ratio (TDCR) Cherenkov counting of 90 Y, liquid scintillation (LS) counting for 90 Sr following radiochemi- cal separation, LS counting for 90 Y following radiochem- ical separation, Cherenkov counting for 90 Y following radiochemical separation and LS counting of the Sr sam- ples for 90 Y in-growth. The counting was done using a low- level Hidex 300SL TDCR counter. Each measurement method was compared for accuracy, sensitivity and effi- ciency. The results following Cherenkov counting and radiochemical separation were in very good agreement with one another.

Future Hydrogen Production Using Nuclear Reactors

Abstract: The potential of hydrogen to replace fossil fuels presents a significant opportunity for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially when hydrogen is produced by "water-splitting", instead of hydrocarbon processing. "Water- splitting" by energy derived from nuclear sources is a preferred method for "carbon-free" production of hydrogen on a large scale. Researchers around the world are pursuing two new ways of water-splitting - thermochemical cycles and high- temperature electrolysis (HTE), using thermal energy from the future generation of higher temperature reactors. Both these methods, when coupled with a high-temperature nuclear reactor, could have efficiencies in the range of 50-60% compared to <30% for conventional electrolysis - currently the only existing method of producing hydrogen without co-product CO2. Research is underway at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) on the development of the next generation of advanced CANDUreg concepts that include the Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR). The SCWR would use supercritical water as the coolant with a nominal outlet temperature of up to 6251 and could deliver heat at ges550degC for hydrogen production. AECL is currently evaluating various thermochemical cycles and high-temperature electrolysis for matching with the temperature capability of the SCWR and ACR-1000reg.