Research Stories

Quebec residents enjoy more reliable and economical electricity thanks to research using neutrons. Now, Hydro-Quebec is leading an initiative by the International Electrotechnical Commission to develop a new international standard that will ensure the long-term reliability and prevent losses from hydroelectric turbine failures.

Assessments of national facilities dedicated to neutron beams in the U.S. and U.K. found that they produce social and economic benefits worth at least double the investment. Canada, with its multipurpose neutron source model, is realizing a return on investment in its neutron facilities of at least 3 times.

Social acceptance of nuclear power is linked to the safe, permanent disposal of its used fuel and nuclear waste. Researchers at Western University use neutron beams to generate key knowledge about the long-term reliability of used-fuel storage containers—knowledge that has proven essential for the licensing of geologic repositories.

Canada’s fleet of nuclear power plants have realized impacts worth hundreds of millions from research supported by a decade of stress measurements using neutron beams to ensure their safe, reliable and economic operations.

Hydro-Québec is using stress data from the Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (CNBC) to improve electricity generation from hydroelectric dams.

Operators of nuclear power plants use stress data from the CNBC to ensure safe, reliable and economic operations.

Stress data obtained at the CNBC contributed to a guide that is used by nuclear operators in Japan to inform decisions about expensive replacements of in-core components that may be susceptible to cracking.

New Brunswick Power accessed neutron beams to obtain critical knowledge to understand unexpected incidents at its nuclear power plant and assure its safe and reliable operations.

Stress data from an array of feeder pipes obtained with neutron beams assists NB Power to manage the cracking issues and informs decision-making about the timing of its refurbishment.

The Canadian nuclear industry rose to immediate challenges posed by the cracking issues, employing neutron beams as part of their research on materials. That research provided confidence to continue with a multi-billion export project, enabled all the stations to assure safety for continued, and resulted in spin-off technology.

Operators of nuclear power plants using Canadian technology joined together to study the cracking issues observed at Point Lepreau and later at Gentilly-2, and ultimately solved the underlying issue for all Canadian reactors.

Studies of nuclear fuel at the CNBC help Canada to contribute to global nuclear security.