Heavy water cycle in the CANDU reactor

Hydrogen atom has two isotopes: deuterium 1H2 and tritium 1H3. The deuterium oxide D2O is called heavy water due to its density of 1105.2 Kg/m3. Another important physical property of the heavy water is the low neutron capture section, suitable to moderate the neutrons into natural uranium fission reactor as CANDU. Due to the fact that into this reactor the fuel is cooled into the pressure tubes surrounded by a moderator, the usage of D2O as primary heat transport (PHT) agent is mandatory. Therefore a large amount of heavy water (approx. 500 tons) is used in a CANDU reactor. Being a costly resource - it represents 20% of the initial plant capital cost, D2O management is required to preserve it. (author)