| Sodium Reactor Experiment | |
|---|---|
 The Sodium Reactor Experiment facility in 1958 | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Santa Susana Field Laboratory, California |
| Coordinates | 34°14′7″N 118°42′30″W / 34.23528°N 118.70833°W |
| Status | Decommissioned |
| Construction began | 1954–1957 |
| Commission date | July 12, 1957 |
| Decommission date | February 15, 1964 |
| Owners | Atomics International Division, North American Aviation |
| Nuclear power station | |
| Reactor type | Sodium Liquid metal cooled reactor, graphite moderated |
| Power generation | |
| Units decommissioned | 1 x 20 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 6.5 MW |
| External links | |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
The Sodium Reactor Experiment was a pioneering nuclear power plant built by Atomics International at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory near Simi Valley, California. The reactor operated from 1957 to 1964. On July 12, 1957 the Sodium Reactor Experiment became the first nuclear reactor in California to produce electrical power for a commercial power grid by powering the nearby city of Moorpark.[1][2] In July 1959, the reactor experienced a partial meltdown when 13 of the reactor's 43 fuel elements partially melted, and radioactive gas was released into the atmosphere.[3] The reactor was repaired and restarted in September 1960. In February 1964, the Sodium Reactor Experiment was in operation for the last time. Removal of the deactivated reactor was completed in 1981.[4] Technical analyses of the 1959 incident have produced contrasting conclusions regarding the types and quantities of radioactive materials released. Members of the neighboring communities have expressed concerns about the possible impacts on their health and environment from the incident. In August 2009 the Department of Energy hosted a community workshop to discuss the 1959 incident.
- ^ U.S. Energy Information Agency. "California Nuclear Industry". Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ DuTemple, Octave. "American Nuclear Society Sodium Reactor Experiment Nuclear Historic Landmark awarded, February 21, 1986" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Ashleywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Rockwell International Corporation, Energy Systems Group. "Sodium Reactor Experiment Decommissioning Final Report" (PDF). ESG-DOE-13403. Retrieved April 14, 2012.