View source for Physics:GLEEP

{{Short description|Experimental nuclear reactor in Oxfordshire, England}}
'''GLEEP''', which stood for '''Graphite Low Energy Experimental Pile''', was a long-lived experimental [[Physics:Nuclear reactor|nuclear reactor]] in Oxfordshire, England. Run for the first time on August 15, 1947, it was the first reactor to operate in western Europe.

It was built at the [[Organization:Atomic Energy Research Establishment|Atomic Energy Research Establishment]], a former {{wipe|Royal Air Force}} airfield, near Harwell in Oxfordshire (then in Berkshire), in an aircraft hangar.  It was a [[Chemistry:Graphite|graphite]] [[Physics:Neutron moderator|moderated]], air-cooled reactor and used 11,500 natural uranium fuel [[Chemistry:Aluminium|aluminium]]-clad rods inserted into 676 horizontal fuel channels. With a normal power output of just 3 [[Kilowatt|kilowatt]]s, it was initially used for investigations into reactor design and operation, and later for the calibration of instruments for measuring [[Physics:Neutron|neutron]] flux.

It had an exceptionally long life for a reactor of 43 years, being shut down in 1990. The fuel was removed in 1994 and the [[Physics:Control rod|control rod]]s and external equipment the following year.  A project to completely dismantle it was started in 2003 and completed in October 2004.

==See also==
*[[Engineering:List of nuclear reactors|List of nuclear reactors]]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000915093227/http://research-sites.com/ Research Sites Restoration Limited]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160817073538/http://research-sites.com/news/2011-03-29/delicensing-confirmation Aerial photographs of reactor site]
{{Nuclear Technology}}


[[Category:Graphite moderated reactors]]
[[Category:Nuclear research reactors|Gleep]]
[[Category:Defunct nuclear reactors]]

{{Sourceattribution|GLEEP}}