This past week we went to the nuclear reactor at MIT. I felt fortunate enough to be apart of what goes on behind a nuclear reactor plant. It took us a few minutes to find the right place, but once we were there, it was apparent. There was someone waiting for us at the front desk, immediately discussing safety precautions we needed to know before seeing the plant. Our tour guide began by taking down everyone’s names and in exchange, giving us a radioactive tracker with a specific number and read level that was written down as well. Once everyone was situated, we began our tour.
First, our tour guide began with basic information about the plant. The reactor is generally kept at 50 degrees Celsius. Captured heat goes into the secondary system then into the cooling towers. Evaporation equipment is used where the temperature drops to 30 degrees Celsius. The fuel is in the core of the reactor, which is about the size of a 30-gallon trash barrel. It is inspected every six months to make sure the core is not being blocked. It is currently HEU based, one of the two plants left in the United States to be converted to LEU. About 2,200 gallons of water is being pumped throughout the reactor every minute to cool the fission and lower energy. It is designed to keep water from boiling around the aluminum. If the reactor met a critical point, power would be significantly increased to stable the fission. D20 reflectors scatter and bounce throughout the core of the plant. There are 6 boron/stainless steel blades that expose the fuel to the reactor around it. The boron’s absorb the neutrons created and remove harmful chemicals. The intent for the MIT nuclear reactor is to create radiation for research.
As we made our way past the buzzing door, we approached a wall with thousands of small circular lights indicating who was in the reactor. It was amazing to see the procedure of monitoring everyone that was in the plant, at all times. We passed a unique looking machine to place your hands and feet on upon exiting the reactor that checked for contamination. Our guide informed us of the difference between radiation and contamination. Radiation is the energy coming off of the radioactive particle. The particle, however, is the contamination. Since safety is a huge concern at this plant, steel and lead are used to protect the workers in the reactor from radiation and contamination. Only 5 REM of contamination are allowed per year. Refueling occurs within the reactor to make sure the system is running properly. Static and neutrons surround the core, often changing so refueling happens every two-three months. Cadmium is used to assist the absorption of the neutrons.
When we were in the basement of the reactor, our guide informed us of various research projects that took place at this particular plant, one of them being brain cancer research. Patients who had become terminally ill were given a certain amount of radiation from the neutron beam. In many cases, the results showed six to eight months more life. Prostate cancer was also another treatment researched and tested at this plant. Gold was placed in the body to irradiate tumors in the particular area. Decay had a half-life of about 2.5 days. A half-life is the period of time it takes for the amount of a substance undergoing decay to decrease by half.
The MIT nuclear reactor tour was one of the most informational fieldtrips I’ve experienced. I learned so much in the short amount of time we were alloted to tour the plant. We also we discovered we schedule tours anytime throughout the year which is great if anyone has company coming to town!
Great recap of our FieldTrip to the MIT reactor.
I forgot about some of the points you posted:
– The reactor is generally kept at 50 degrees Celsius. Captured heat goes into the secondary system then into the cooling towers. Evaporation equipment is used where the temperature drops to 30 degrees Celsius.
That’s fairly important because the reactor’s support equipment needs to be maintained in a controlled environment. It’s important to remember that the excess heat is purged through the ventilation system.
– Only 5 REM of contamination are allowed per year
That’s really important to remember, because radiation naturally occurs everywhere. Nuclear technicians need to be extra careful about where and when they’re exposed to radiation wether it’s at work at the reactor or under going X-rays
The MIT Nuclear Reactor is an open-source nuclear reactor that isn’t licensed for commercial use. It was created by MIT students who wanted to build a small, simple nuclear reactor. You need to follow know which gender cheats more that learn more new skills for tracking tools. The goal was to make the reactor easy to understand, which is why it’s based on a Simple Harmonic Oscillator.
The MIT Nuclear Reactor stands as a beacon of scientific innovation and engineering prowess, symbolizing humanity’s quest for sustainable energy solutions. With a legacy spanning decades, this facility continues to push the boundaries of nuclear technology, pioneering advancements in safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. As a testament to its commitment to excellence, MIT collaborates with leading industry partners, research institutions, and regulatory bodies to ensure the highest standards of operation. For more information on MIT’s groundbreaking initiatives, visit https://pasadwindows.com and witness the future of nuclear energy unfold.