Reactor technology overview and global count
PHWR stands for Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor. Uses heavy water as moderator and coolant, which allows the reactor to run on natural (unenriched) uranium. The CANDU design is the best known example, and can be refuelled while operating. Central to the nuclear programmes of Canada and India. In the WhereNuc dataset there are 68 recorded PHWR units across 10 countries, of which 46 are operational, 2 in suspended operation and 6 under construction. Their combined net operating capacity is about 24,215 MW. The earliest recorded PHWR unit entered commercial operation in 1962, the most recent in 2016.
| Country | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 26 | 38% |
| India | 22 | 32% |
| South Korea | 6 | 9% |
| Romania | 5 | 7% |
| Argentina | 3 | 4% |
| China | 2 | 3% |
| Sweden | 1 | 1% |
| United States | 1 | 1% |
| Pakistan | 1 | 1% |
| Germany | 1 | 1% |
| Model | Units |
|---|---|
| Horizontal Pressure Tube type | 18 |
| CANDU 6 | 11 |
| CANDU 750B | 4 |
| CANDU 850 | 4 |
| CANDU 500A | 4 |
| CANDU 500B | 4 |
| PHWR KWU | 2 |
| CANDU 791 | 2 |
| CANDU 750A | 2 |
| PHWR-700 | 2 |
| Horizontal Pressure Tube Type | 2 |
| Prototype | 1 |
| CANDU 200 | 1 |
| CANDU-137 MW | 1 |
| CANDU | 1 |