WAGR
History
In 1958 Windscale was the setting for a new reactor to explore the potential of high pressure and temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel and components.
The Windscale Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor (WAGR) was built to study and prove in service the performance of gas-cooled fuel elements suitable for a commercial reactor, to service as a test bed for further development of advanced fuel and other components and to provide operational experience of power production.
WAGR was constructed between 1957 and 1961 and was a carbon dioxide cooled, graphite moderated reactor using uranium dioxide fuel in stainless steel cans. WAGR first produced power in August 1962 and achieved full design output in 1963. It operated at an electrical output of 33MW (E) for 18 years (average load factor of 75%). In 1981 the reactor was shut down after satisfactory completion of all the research and development objectives.
Objectives
Project WAGR is the UK’s lead power reactor decommissioning exercise. Operated by Sellafield Ltd, it aims to demonstrate that a full-sized power reactor can be decommissioned safely, cost effectively and in an environmentally acceptable manner. Since 1999 dismantling operations have been taking place involving a series of campaigns, which are being carried out in a 'top down' approach because of the construction of the reactor. This includes the removal of the hot box, reactor core and pressure vessel.
Windscale Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor
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