Ewa reactor

The name of the reactor is an acronym derived from the first letters of the Polish words: Eksperymentalny (Experimental), Wodny (Water), and Atomowy (Atomic).

On the front of the banknote, there is an image of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, a Polish and naturalised-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity.

In February 1995, the reactor was shut down due to the wear of individual components and materials.

Ewa was based on the Soviet VVR-S design, had an initial power of 2 MW, was fueled by enriched uranium, and moderated by pressurized water.

In 1963 and 1967, the reactor underwent two major overhauls that improved the safety of the reaction and allowed for the use of better enriched fuels.