Chicago Pile-5

Chicago Pile-5 (CP-5) was the last of the line of Chicago Pile research reactors which started with CP-1 in 1942. The first reactor built on the Argonne National Laboratory-East site, it operated from 1954-1979.[1]

Pile-5 seen in 2009.

CP-5 was a thermal-neutron reactor using enriched uranium as fuel and heavy water as coolant and as a neutron moderator. It produced neutrons for use in research.[2] The reactor had an output rating of 5 megawatts.[3]

Cleanup and decommissioning of the site of CP-5 was started in 1991 completed in 2000. The cleanup process included removal of all contaminated equipment and spent fuel, decontamination of the reactor vessel and associated plumbing, and removal of the spent fuel pool, reactor internals and the hot cell liner. The accessible areas of the structure have been certified as having radiation levels equivalent to background radiation.[4]

See also

References
  1. Heavy Water and Graphite Reactors: CP-5, Argonne National Laboratory
  2. Wiese, Edward C.; Rose, Robert W. (June 1998). "Large Scale Demonstration Project At Argonne National Laboratory's CP-5 Reactor" (PDF). University of Chicago as Operator of Argonne National Laboratory. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  3. "Argonne Building 330 Demolition". FedBizOps.gov. August 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  4. "Chicago Pile-Five (CP-5) Facility Decommissioning Project". Argonne National Laboratory. Retrieved 2009-11-07.


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