MIT Nuclear Research Reactor

MITR-II
MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with Tower Tech cooling tower in the foreground
MIT Nuclear Research Reactor is located in Massachusetts
MIT Nuclear Research Reactor
Location of MITR-II
Operating InstitutionMassachusetts Institute of Technology
LocationCambridge, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°21′37″N 71°05′47″W / 42.36028°N 71.09639°W / 42.36028; -71.09639
Typetank[1]
Power6 MW[1][2] (thermal)
Construction and Upkeep
Construction CostUS$3 million
Construction Began6 June 1956
(68 years ago) (1956-06-06)[1]
First Criticality21 July 1958
(66 years ago) (1958-07-21)[1][3]
Annual Upkeep CostUS$2.5 million
Staff36[1]
Operators15[1]
Refuel Frequency3-4 months
Technical Specifications
Max Thermal Flux6.0×10^13 cm−2s−1[4]
Max Fast Flux1.2×10^14 cm−2s−1[4]
Fuel Typeplate type[4] (27 (Three dedicated to in-core experiments)[6]x)
Coolinglight water[1]
Neutron Moderatorlight water[1]
Neutron Reflector
Control Rods
  • Six boron & stainless steel[1]
  • One aluminum rod with cadmium wrap[5]
Cladding Materialaluminum alloy[5]

The MIT Nuclear Research Reactor (MITR) serves the research purposes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is a tank-type 6 megawatt reactor[2] 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.[7] It is the fourth-oldest operating reactor in the country.[1]

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  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MITR_Cooling was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference MITR_Reactor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference MITR_CoreDescription was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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