HC Deb 23 June 1960 vol 625 cc60-1W
59. Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Education, as representing the Minister for Science, how many experimental nuclear reactor projects are under observation and under construction, respectively, by the Atomic Energy Authority, specifying the types and their purpose.

Sir D. Eccles

The Atomic Energy Authority endeavour to keep under observation experimental reactor projects in all parts of the world. At

THE AUTHORITY'S RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
Name Purpose
(a) Existing
GLEEP … Harwell … Routine graphite and uranium quality testing, research with oscillator, biological irradiations.
BEPO … Harwell … Isotope production and general radiation source.
DIMPLE (zero energy) … Harwell … Thermal reactor and pile oscillator studies.
LIDO … Harwell … Thermal reactor studies, including shielding.
DIDO … Harwell … Nuclear reactor material studies, isotope production, neutron physics, radiation chemistry.
PLUTO … Harwell … Nuclear reactor material studies, isotope production' neutron physics, radiation chemistry.
DMTR (Pluto type) … Dounreay … Studies on nuclear reactor materials.
HORACE (zero energy) … Aldermaston … To obtain basic nuclear information on HERALD
FAST REACTOR (Dounreay) … Dounreay … Development of fast reactor technology (reactor physics, fuel elements and coolant handling).
ZENITH (zero energy) … Winfrith … Reactor physics investigations for high temperature gas-cooled systems (Maximum temperatures, 800°C. in core, 400°C. in reflector).
HERALD … Aldermaston … Neutron physics, radiochemical and nuclear reactor materials studies.
NERO (zero energy) … Winfrith … Investigations for advanced graphite-moderated reactors.
(b) Under construction (and expected to start up in 1961)
A.G.R. … Windscale … To study the advanced gas-cooled power reactor systems and to test fuel elements for the system.
HERO (zero energy) … Windscale … Reactor physics studies for the advanced gas-cooled reactor system.
(c) Construction approved
NESTOR … Winfrith … Source of neutrons for sub-critical assemblies.
HECTOR (zero energy) … Winfrith … Oscillator Reactor—reactivity measurements on materials and fuel elements.
NOTE: In addition the Authority are participating jointly with other members of the European Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (O.E.E.C.) in the operation of the heavy water moderated boiling water reactor at Halden in Norway, and in the design, construction and operation of the high-temperature gas-cooled experimental reactor (DRAGON) at Winfrith in Dorset.