RE: What is Weapons Grade

[CHASE John -NUCLEAR <john.chase@ontariopowergeneration.com>]

CANDU reactors do indeed use natural uranium. They also use heavy water as a
moderator, because it absorbs very few neutrons as is slows them down.

John Chase
Sr. Specialist, Dosimetry
Ontario Power Generation
john.chase@ontariopowergeneration.com
<mailto:john.chase@ontariopowergeneration.com> 


	----------
	From:  Kent, Michael  D [SMTP:Michael.D.Kent@nspco.com]
	Sent:  Wednesday, August 16, 2000 1:52 PM
	To:  Multiple recipients of list
	Subject:  RE: What is Weapons Grade




	> Naturally occurring uranium consists of 99.283 percent (by weight)
of
	> uranium 238, 0.711 percent of uranium 235, and 0.0055 percent of
uranium
	> 234. Uranium 235 is a fissile isotope. Uranium 238 is not fissile,
and no
	> amount of it can sustain a chain reaction. It is fertile, which
means it
	> can be readily transformed into a fissile isotope by neutron
irradiation.
	> 
		[Kent, Michael  D]  

		Just a quick question.  

		I'm not an expert, but doesn't CANDU reactors use U-238?  I
believe
	if they do use U-238 to generate electricity, then I would assume
this to be
	a chain reaction leading to a sustained criticality.

		U-238 may not be suitable for atomic weapons use, but it is
	acceptable for nuclear power plant power generation purposes.

		Michael D. Kent RRPT
	
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