Facilities and Resources
The MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory operates a 5 MW research reactor to support MIT’ research initiatives and goals. It has provided faculty and students from MIT a state-of-the-art infrastructure. During this time, it has served as educational training and cutting-edge research in the areas of nuclear fission engineering, radiation effects in biology and medicine, etc. In addition, MIT undergraduate and graduate students have benefited from the hands-on experience utilizing the reactor’s capabilities.
Its main goal has been to support MIT’s education, then secondly it has been to educate the general public about the benefits of a strong nuclear program. Giving public tours and lectures which describe and clarify different nuclear programs. research topics include applications of nuclear trace analysis to problems in the physical and engineering sciences, life sciences, geosciences, and the environment, radiation effects on materials, etc.
Reactor Student Operators
MIT has hired traditionally several undergraduates per year, usually at the end of their freshmen year. Five MIT students are currently training to become reactor operators. In this reporting period, 12 part-time students obtained their reactor operator license and four staff obtained their senior operator license. The training program is rigorous and covers, reactor dynamics, radiation detection, radiation safety, and reactor systems. Comparable with the MIT undergraduate courses , since cover’s these same topics. In addition, students are taught how to operate MITR.
When completed the training program, they have a two day examination, which is administered by the NRC, and its composed of an oral and written exam. Candidates who pass successfully obtain their operator license and get employed for the semester at MITR. After the students gain experience, most are offered the opportunity to participate in a second training program that leads to a senior reactor operator license. This program is an excellent opportunity because it combines theoretical study with actual work experience. In addition, the students that receive the senior license obtain management experience because they are employed as shift supervisors. Students who have completed this training program regularly state that it was one of the high points of their MIT experience.
Some of the most interesting parts of the experimental facilities:
In-Core Facilities- The MIT’s core can accommodate three in-core irradiation facilities. A license amendment is approved by the NRC to perform in-core fuel irradiations as long as the fissile material mass in limited to 100 gm or less, provided that the fuel irradiation does not contain a forced circulation loop. The MITR is the first research reactor in the U.S. that is licensed to perform in-core fissile materials irradiation. Irradiation programs have been funded to utilize the ICSA for testing advanced high-temperature materials and advanced in-core thermocouples and fiber optic sensors.
Neutron Beam Ports- There are numerous beam ports that penetrate the MIT’s reactor’s shield, graphite reflector, and heavy-water reflector. These ports provide a high-quality neutron flux for such endeavors as neutron scattering, prompt-gamma analysis, neutron physics, and neutron transmutation doping. Currently, port 4DH1 is equipped with a time-of-flight neutron spectrometer with remote access capability, used for a number of educational programs, while port 4DH4 is equipped with a neutron diffractometer.
BNCT Experimental Facilities- The MITR has been engaged in patient trials for the use of BNCT therapy to treat both brain tumors and deep-seated skin cancer utilizing its shielded medical rooms the: fission converter horizontal epithermal beam and vertical thermal beam located below reactor core. Animal studies have also been conducted using the vertical thermal beam.
Gamma Irradiation Facility- Where sample irradiation space can be provided in the spent fuel pool for gamma exposure from fission product decay. Facility can be instrumented if required.
sources:
http://web.mit.edu/catalog/inter.resea.nrl.html
http://tech.mit.edu/V130/N27/reactor.html