US Nuclear Corp. to outfit heavy water storage site in Canada

U.S. Nuclear Corp. has been awarded a contract to outfit the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, Heavy Water Storage Facility in Canada.
U.S. Nuclear Corp. has been awarded a contract to outfit the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, Heavy Water Storage Facility in Canada. | File photo

U.S. Nuclear Corp. has been awarded a $391,174 contract to outfit the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, Heavy Water Storage Facility in Canada with smart new tritium area monitors.

The monitors were designed specifically for Ontario Power Generation to detect minute amounts of tritium in designated areas, set to alarm and alert workers if the concentration rises too high. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that can be hazardous when ingested or inhaled; large amounts are produced in heavy-water reactors such as those installed at Darlington.

The contract comes closely after Ontario Power Generation's statement that it is ready to deliver on the $12.8 billion government investment for refurbishing Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, which is expected to be completed by 2026 and generate about $14.9 billion in economic benefits.

According to U.S. Nuclear Corp. President, CEO and Chairman Robert Goldstein, the project has special significance for the organization.

“Back in 1986, we outfitted Darlington Nuclear Generating Station with all the original tritium area monitors, which have now been in continuous use for the past 30 years,” Goldstein said. “I believe it is a testament to our craftsmanship and quality that these instruments have successfully and reliably operated for 30 straight years, and that after such a long interval, the customer again selected us to refurbish the facility's tritium monitors moving forward."