The MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory has served the university for 52 years. No electricity is produced. The reactor is mainly used for educational and experimental purposes. The MITR-II is the second largest university research reactor in the United States. It is a light water cooled and moderated nuclear reactor that utilizes flat plate-type finned aluminum clad fuel elements. It currently operates at 6 MW located in the center of a gas-tight cylindrical steel building that is equipped with a controlled pressure relief system. The reactor core is located at the center of the light water tank, which is surrounded by a heavy water tank, a graphite reflector, a thermal shield, and a biological shield for additional safety.
The MITR-II supports a broad research program that supports most aspects of neutron science and engineering including materials testing and evaluations, fission engineering, nuclear medicine, neutron scattering, neutron activation analysis, and teaching.
Current research and service areas supported by the MITR-II include:
- Advanced Materials and fuel research.
- Trace element analysis, isotope production, and irradiation services.
- Neutron transmutation doping of silicon
- Neutron scattering
- Infrastructure to support the US initiative for designing and building the next generation of nuclear reactors as a means of reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
I’ve never been to any nuclear facilities, so this trip was really interesting.
I think the end of your blog post really captures the benefits of facilities like the one at MIT: Research. We need the medical and energy research at these plants, as they really open the door to so many solutions.
I can’t wait to see what issues they tackle next!