A tour around MIT’s Nuclear Reactor

    I have lived in Boston for almost 4 years and I still find myself visiting and discovering  new places. Last week I had the great opportunity to go,with all my classmates, to a nuclear reactor here in Boston, inside the MIT campus (see picture below). I have to confess  that I  didn’t realize how significant it was to have this opportunity. It was until the moment that we were checking ourselves in and we were receiving some basic safety instructions that I realized that we will be exposed to some lower radiation levels. Each of us were handed in a  small device that we had to carry with us all time throughout the tour. The initial value of the  device was recorded; and  after  the tour was over  another final measurement  was taken; ideally the difference between final and initial  values would be  very close or equal to zero. Also before exiting the reactor  we re tested  with a special machine that   detects  any tarce of radioactive dust in our shoes or  hands and arms.

     You may already know that nuclear reactors are another way of generating electricity; in case of the MIT – Nuclear reactor, this is not the case; this reactor is not used to generate electricity and contribute to the grid. This reactor is used for experimental purposes; which means that the reactor does not have to be kept on critical state (you have enough uranium so that I can produce heat by itself) for long periods of time but only for the time that is necessary for experimentation. This reactor receives samples and experiments to perform for multiple research and health institutions such as Mass General Hospital.

     During our tour session we learned a  great amount of things. For example. The MIT reactor “ is a heavy-water reflected, light-water cooled and moderated nuclear reactor that utilizes flat, plate-type, finned, aluminum-clad fuel elements” [1]. One of the main aspects that caught my attention was the water that gets used to heat and cool down the reactor; lucky for us this water is reused and controlled so it doesn’t get spilled or gets in contact with the  outside. In fact, this facility is designed in a way that in case of high level of radiation or any accident, nothing will be able to get in contact with  the outside.  And how is this possible ?  The reactor is contained inside an close air-locked concrete structure. In order to enter to the reactor you will have to go through an  2 door air  vacuum  hall  that  will  lower  the pressure level and  make sure the  inside and outside of the reactor doesn’t get contaminated.

    Inside the dome, where the reactor is located; we were able to observe different  interesting things. Personally, the most interesting one was the crane located in the ceiling. This crane  has 360 degrees access and it is used to open the reactor, move heavy object such as the tanks of gas or any other  substances. The second most interesting point was the control room (see picture below). This room is where the magic happens and where  every single step is being carefully monitored. It is here were it possible to determine if the reactor has reached its critical state.  This room also counts with non  digital devices; meaning that in case of a power failure  while the reactor was being used , these devices  will continue to show the readings  since they are not operated  by  a computer.

         Finally, we also learned about some radioactive experiments that have been going on. One of the most significant one is treatment of a cancerogenous tissue  by  inserting radioactive cells that will attack the infected cells. This kind of treatment can only be applied to specific areas since the  radioactive cells have a low half-life and therefore they will not stay radioactive for a long period of time.

     I am glad to say that upon exiting the reactor  and returning the device that was provided to me,  the difference between the final and initial measurements was zero .

 Sources

[1]http://web.mit.edu/nrl/www/reactor/reactor.htm