Interior. General view inside vault below reactor two, with charge machine in position. Digital image of B 20052.

Description Interior. General view inside vault below reactor two, with charge machine in position. Digital image of B 20052.

Date 12/9/1989

Catalogue Number SC 728459

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of B 20052

Scope and Content Vault and charge machine below Reactor Two, Hunterston 'A' Nuclear Power Station, North Ayrshire Hunterston 'A' nuclear power station, a magnox reactor (named after the magnesium alloy used to cover the fuel rods), was commissioned in 1955, designed 1955-7 and built 1957-64. It closed in 1990, and is being decommissioned, a process which may take up to 135 years. The reactors are housed in two glass-fronted structures with curving sides, and are surrounded by lower buildings housing further machinery and supplies. This shows the floor below the reactor, where the rods of fuel can be accessed using the large machine (right). This charge machine is mounted on a travelling carriage on a turntable and makes a sealed connection with the base of the reactor to insert or remove fuel (via the dark circular covers set in the ceiling) by remote control. Hunterston 'A' was the first 'magnox' type nuclear reactor and the first commercial nuclear power station to be built in Scotland. Its reactor charge machines are sited below the reactor where temperatures are cooler, a feature which is unique to this site. Hunterston 'A' nuclear power station has been selected as one of Scotland's key 20th-century Modern architectural monuments. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/728459

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