Dragon reactor: Difference between revisions
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Dragon was an experimental high temperature gas-cooled reactor | Dragon was an experimental high temperature gas-cooled reactor. It was located at [[Winfrith Atomic Energy Establishment|Winfrith]] in Dorset; it was set up and operated by the [[United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority]] on behalf of a group of 12 members of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation. | ||
The first work on this concept at Winfrith was in a "zero-energy" reactor called [[Zenith reactor|Zenith]] which started operation in 1959.<ref>The Times Mar. 24, 1959</ref> | The first work on this concept at Winfrith was in a "zero-energy" reactor called [[Zenith reactor|Zenith]] which started operation in 1959.<ref>The Times Mar. 24, 1959</ref> | ||
Revision as of 14:15, 24 February 2024
Dragon was an experimental high temperature gas-cooled reactor. It was located at Winfrith in Dorset; it was set up and operated by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on behalf of a group of 12 members of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation.
The first work on this concept at Winfrith was in a "zero-energy" reactor called Zenith which started operation in 1959.[1]
1960 The civil engineering contract for the Dragon reactor was let to Turriff Construction Corporation[2]
1961 The pumps would be obtained from J. and S. Pumps[3]
1962 The expected cost of the project had doubled; significant design choices were yet to be settled[4]
1964 The reactor achieved a self-sustaining nuclear reaction for the first time[5]
1966 The reactor achieved its design output of 20MW with an operating temperature of 1000 C, about twice the temperature of commercial reactors, offering the prospect of higher efficiency[6]
1976 The Dragon reactor was finally closed after arguments about funding[7]