Organization:University of Massachusetts Lowell Radiation Laboratory

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Short description: Laboratory in Lowell, Massachusetts
UMLRR
Reactor - University of Massachusetts Lowell - DSC00110.JPG
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Operating InstitutionUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell
LocationLowell, Massachusetts
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 42°39′17″N 71°19′30″W / 42.65472°N 71.325°W / 42.65472; -71.325
TypePool
Power860420650 cal(th)/h
Construction and Upkeep
Construction Cost$1.2 million USD
Construction Began1974
First Criticality1975 January 2
Annual Upkeep Cost$0.3 million USD
Staff2
Operators6
Technical Specifications
Max Thermal Flux1.4e13 n/cm^2-s
Max Fast Flux9.2e12 n/cm^2-s
Fuel Typeplate type
18 per assembly
Coolinglight water
Neutron Moderatorlight water
Neutron Reflectorgraphite, light water
Control RodsBoron-Aluminium-Carbide (Boral)
4 per element
Cladding Materialaluminium alloy

The Radiation Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Lowell serves the Department of Applied Physics among others. The laboratory contains the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor (UMLRR), a 1 MW pool-type research reactor[1] that has been operating since 1974, along with a 300 kCi Co-60 gamma ray source and a 5.5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator.

Reactor

First startup was January 2, 1975.[2] A budget for the reactor is not provided from the university or from the state; funding comes from customer irradiations, grants, and the United States Department of Energy.[3][4]

Conversion to LEU

The UMass Lowell reactor has been one of the many research reactors to make the conversion from high-enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) as a part of anti-terrorism security measures.[5] The used HEU fuel was reportedly shipped to the Savannah River Site. The original shipping date was June 2002 but had been postponed many times. As of present-day the shipments have been made and the reactor is in operation with LEU.

Neutron Irradiation Capabilities

Neutron irradiation facilities at the UMLRR include: 1x 8-inch beam port, 2x 6-inch beam ports, in-core radiation baskets & flux trap, thermal column, and fast neutron irradiator (FNI).[6]

References

External links