The moderator used in the nuclear reactor at Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam is usually heavy water (deuterium oxide) or light water (ordinary water). These moderators are important for slowing down neutrons produced during nuclear fission reactions to sustain the chain reaction in the reactor.
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Tritium is formed by the capture of neutrons by deuterium (heavy hydrogen) which is in the heavy water in the moderator and coolant.
The CIRUS reactor in India is commonly used for studies involving uranium heavy water lattices. This reactor was used for research purposes before being permanently shut down in 2010.
moderator, coolant
Different types of nuclear plants: Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR); Boiling Water Reactor (BWR); Heavy Water Moderated Reactor (CANDU); Advanced Gascooled Reactor (AGR); Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR); Pebble Bed Gascooled Reactor; Water Cooled Graphite Reactor (RBMK). There are other ideas that only exist on paper.
This is done in order to limit corrosion of the internal reactor components
A CANDU (Canadian Deuterium Uranium) reactor typically contains around 1,000 to 1,200 metric tons of heavy water (deuterium oxide, D₂O) in its moderator system. This heavy water serves as both a neutron moderator and a coolant, allowing the reactor to operate efficiently using natural uranium as fuel. The exact amount can vary based on the specific design and configuration of the reactor.
This is the function of the moderator, which may be heavy water, light water, or graphite
One type of nuclear reactor is the pressurized water reactor (PWR). In a PWR, the heat generated by nuclear fission in the reactor core is transferred to water, which circulates through the core to create steam that drives turbines to produce electricity.
The heavy water in a heavy water reactor is water where many of the regular hydrogen atoms (one proton and one electron) are replaced by heavy hydrogen (or deuterium) which has one proton, one electron, and one neutron. The addition of the neutron in the hydrogen atoms increases the mass (weight) of the water molecules and changes its chemical and physical properties making it useful in a heavy water reactor.Normal water is H2O or two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. There is an isotope of hydrogen named deuterium. Deuterium is heavier than hydrogen but it's still hydrogen, so if one or more of the hydrogen atoms is replaced with deuterium it creates heavy water. So the water in a heavy water reactor is just water with deuterium atoms rather than ordinary hydrogen atoms. This is probably confusing but it is water and you could drink it without harm. But, don't drink a lot because the body is used to the lighter water.
Heavy water (deuterium) functions as a moderator. It slows down fast neutrons released by fission reactions in order to allow the reaction to be sustained. Fast neutrons pass through the reactor before initiating another fission reaction.