B Reactor

B Reactor
The face of B Reactor during construction.
B Reactor is located in Washington (state)
B Reactor
B Reactor is located in the United States
B Reactor
LocationAbout 5.3 miles (8.5 km) northeast of junction of State Route 24 and State Route 240 on the Hanford Site
Nearest cityRichland, Washington
Coordinates46°37′49″N 119°38′50″W / 46.63028°N 119.64722°W / 46.63028; -119.64722
Area9.5 acres (3.8 ha)
BuiltJune 7, 1943[1] to September 1944[2]
ArchitectE.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company
NRHP reference No.92000245
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 3, 1992
Designated NHLAugust 19, 2008[3]

The B Reactor at the Hanford Site, near Richland, Washington, was the first large-scale nuclear reactor ever built. The project was a key part of the Manhattan Project, the United States nuclear weapons development program during World War II. Its purpose was to convert natural (not isotopically enriched) uranium metal into plutonium-239 by neutron activation, as plutonium is simpler to chemically separate from spent fuel assemblies, for use in nuclear weapons, than it is to isotopically enrich uranium into weapon-grade material. The B reactor was fueled with metallic natural uranium, graphite moderated, and water-cooled. It has been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark since August 19, 2008[3][4] and in July 2011 the National Park Service recommended that the B Reactor be included in the Manhattan Project National Historical Park commemorating the Manhattan Project.[5] Visitors can take a tour of the reactor by advance reservation.[6]

  1. ^ Shannon Dininny (2008-08-26). "World's first nuclear reactor now a landmark". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26. Construction began on June 7, 1943...
  2. ^ "Department of Energy – B Reactor". United States Department of Energy. 2007-04-20. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26. Completed in September 1944...
  3. ^ a b "Weekly List Actions". National Park Service. 2008-08-29. Archived from the original on October 31, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  4. ^ Michele S. Gerber; Brian Casserly; Frederick L. Brown (February 2007). "National Historic Landmark Nomination: B Reactor / 105-B; The 105-B Building in the 100-B/C Area at Hanford" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-26. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ Cary, Annette (13 July 2011). "HANFORD: Park service recommends B Reactor for national park". Tri-City Herald. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  6. ^ "The B Reactor National Historic Landmark". Manhattan Project: B Reactor. Retrieved 12 November 2015.