MIT Nuclear Research Reactor

The MIT Nuclear Research Reactor (MITR) serves the research purposes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is a tank-type 6 MW reactor that is moderated and cooled by light water and uses heavy water as a reflector. It is the second largest university based research reactor in the U.S. (after the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center) and has been in operation since 1958.[1] It is the fourth-oldest operating reactor in the country.[2]

MITR-II
MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with Tower Tech cooling tower in the foreground
Location of MITR-II
Operating InstitutionMassachusetts Institute of Technology
LocationCambridge, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°21′37″N 71°05′47″W
Typetank
Power6 MW (thermal)
Construction and Upkeep
Construction Cost$3 million USD
Construction Began1956 June
First Criticality1958 July
Annual Upkeep Cost$2.5 million USD
Staff36
Operators15
Refuel Frequency3-4 months
Technical Specifications
Max Thermal Flux7.00E+13 n/cm^2-s
Max Fast Flux1.70E+14 n/cm^2-s
Fuel Typeplate type (24 to 27x)
Coolinglight water
Neutron Moderatorlight water
Neutron Reflectorheavy water, graphite
Control Rodsboron & stainless steel (6x) aluminum rod with cadmium wrap (1)
Cladding Materialaluminum alloy

Technical specifications

The MITR-II design uses finned plate-type fuel arranged in a hexagonal pattern of rhomboid fuel assemblies. Power is controlled by 6 manual boron-stainless steel blade-type control rods and one aluminum with cadmium control rod which can be placed on automatic control. Light water flows upwards through the core and a tank of heavy water surrounds the core. A wall of dense concrete that serves as shielding surrounds the tank of heavy water. The maximum coolant temperature is 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit). The light water and heavy water are cooled using forced circulation through heat exchangers to a secondary coolant system. The heat from the reactor is ultimately dissipated to the atmosphere via the secondary cooling system using two modular Tower Tech cooling towers – model TTXL-081950;.[3]

The reactor uses highly enriched uranium fuel, in the form of uranium-aluminum cermet with aluminum cladding.

Refueling takes place 3 to 4 times every year. A single refueling consists of rearranging the assemblies in the core or a combination of rearranging and replacement of old assemblies with new ones. This is more frequent than both nuclear power plants, which may go 17 to 23 months between refueling outages when they rearrange the entire core and replace 1/3 to 1/2 of the core, and most research reactors (particularly university reactors), many of which go decades without refueling due to the high energy density of nuclear fuel and infrequent use at high power levels.

Uses

The MITR research program encompasses most aspects of neutron science and engineering including nuclear medicine. Some of these activities are:

  • Neutron activation analysis for the identification of trace elements and isotope ratios in geological specimens
  • Fission engineering
  • Materials testing
  • Training
  • Neutron transmutation doping of silicon

The MITR is one of only six facilities in the world that was engaged in patient trials for the use of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) to treat both brain tumors and skin cancer. The MITR fission converter beam is the first to be designed for BNCT. The facility no longer conducts BNCT trials.

  • MITR, along with the Metropolitan Storage Warehouse, viewed from MIT Building 37.
  • Night time view from the same location. Fog produced by the cooling towers is brightly illuminated by floodlights.
  • Close up view of the reactor.

References
  1. Cambridge evaluates MIT's nuclear reactor – The Tech
  2. "IAEA Research Reactors Database". Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  3. unit placard
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