View source for Physics:MIT Nuclear Research Reactor

{{short description|Research nuclear reactor}}
{{Infobox reactor
|name             = MITR-II
|institution      = [[Organization:Massachusetts Institute of Technology|Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
|location         = Cambridge, {{wipe|Massachusetts}}
| image              = MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory - Tower Tech Cooling Tower.jpg
| image_size         = 
| caption            = MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory in Cambridge, {{wipe|Massachusetts}}, with Tower Tech cooling tower in the foreground
| location_map       = Massachusetts
| location_map_width = 
| location_map_text  = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|42|21|37|N|71|05|47|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref    = 
|type             = tank<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />
|power            = {{val|6|u=MW}}<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" /><ref name="MITR_Cooling" />
|power_therm_elec = thermal
|construct_cost   = {{US$|3}}{{nbsp}}million
|construct_start  =  {{start date and age|1956|06|06|df=y|br=y|p=y}}<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />
|construct_length =
|first_crit       = {{start date and age|1958|07|21|df=y|br=y|p=y}}<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" /><ref name="MITR-I_1stCrit" />
|upkeep_cost      = {{US$|2.5}}{{nbsp}}million
|#_of_staff       = 36<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />
|#_of_operators   = 15<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />
|refuel_time      = 3-4 months
|max_thermal_flux = {{scinote|6.0e13}} cm<sup>−2</sup>s<sup>−1</sup><ref name="MITR_Reactor" />
|max_fast_flux    = {{scinote|1.2e14}} cm<sup>−2</sup>s<sup>−1</sup><ref name="MITR_Reactor" />
|fuel_type        = plate type<ref name="MITR_Reactor" />
|#_fuel_assemblies= 27 (Three dedicated to in-core experiments)<ref name="MITR_Facilities" />
|cooling          = light water<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />
|moderator        = light water<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />
|reflector        = {{ubl|heavy water<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />|[[Chemistry:Graphite|graphite]]<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />}}
|cladding_material= aluminum alloy<ref name="MITR_CoreDescription" />
|control_rods     = {{ubl|Six boron & stainless steel<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />|One aluminum rod with cadmium wrap<ref name="MITR_CoreDescription" />}}
|rods_per_element =
|source           =
}}
The '''MIT Nuclear Research Reactor''' ('''MITR''') serves the research purposes of the [[Organization:Massachusetts Institute of Technology|Massachusetts Institute of Technology]].  It is a tank-type {{val|6|u=megawatt}} reactor<ref name="MITR_Cooling" /> that is moderated and cooled by light water and uses [[Chemistry:Heavy water|heavy water]] as a reflector. It is the second largest university-based [[Physics:Research reactor|research reactor]] in the {{wipe|United States}} (after the [[Organization:University of Missouri Research Reactor Center|University of Missouri Research Reactor Center]]) and has been in operation since 1958.<ref name="Yen_1986" /> It is the fourth-oldest operating reactor in the country.<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase" />

== History ==

The first iteration of the reactor, MITR-I, operated from 1958 to 1974. The reactor was then upgraded to a new design, MITR-II, which offers a higher [[Physics:Neutron flux|neutron flux]].<ref name="Reducing HEU" />{{rp|46}}

There are plans to convert the reactor to use low-enriched uranium instead of high-enriched uranium to mitigate the proliferation risk; as of 2016, this conversion was planned for 2027.<ref name="WaPo LEU" />

== Technical specifications ==

The MITR-II design uses finned plate-type fuel arranged in a hexagonal pattern of [[Rhomboid|rhomboid]] fuel assemblies.<ref name="MITR_CoreDescription" />  Power is controlled by six manual boron-stainless steel blade-type [[Physics:Control rod|control rod]]s and one aluminum with [[Chemistry:Cadmium|cadmium]] control rod which can be placed on automatic control.  Light water flows upwards through the core and a tank of heavy water surrounds the core.  A wall of dense concrete that serves as shielding surrounds the tank of heavy water.  The maximum coolant temperature is {{convert|50|C|abbr=on}}.<ref name="MITR_Cooling" /> The light water and heavy water are cooled using forced circulation through [[Physics:Heat exchanger|heat exchanger]]s to a secondary coolant system. The heat from the reactor is ultimately dissipated to the atmosphere via the secondary cooling system using two modular Tower Tech [[Physics:Cooling tower|cooling tower]]s – model TTXL-081950.<ref>{{cite sign | title = unit placard}}</ref>

The reactor uses [[Physics:Enriched uranium#Highly enriched uranium (HEU)|highly enriched uranium 235]] fuel, in the form of uranium-aluminum [[Chemistry:Cermet|cermet]] with [[Chemistry:Aluminum|aluminum]] cladding.

Refueling takes place 3 to 4 times every year.<ref name="MITR_CoreDescription" />  A single refueling involves rearranging the assemblies in the core or a combination of rearranging and replacement of old assemblies with new ones.  This is more frequent than [[Engineering:Nuclear power plant|nuclear power plant]]s and most [[Physics:Research reactor|research reactor]]s. Power plants typically go 17 to 23 months between refueling outages, at which time they rearrange the entire core and replace {{fraction|1|3}} to {{fraction|1|2}} of the core. Many research reactors (particularly university reactors) go decades without refueling due to the high energy density of nuclear fuel and infrequent use at high power levels.

== Uses ==
The MITR research program encompasses most aspects of neutron science and engineering including nuclear medicine.  Some of these activities are:

*[[Physics:Neutron activation|Neutron activation]] analysis for the identification of trace elements and isotope ratios in geological specimens
*Fission engineering
*Materials testing
*Training
*Neutron [[Physics:Nuclear transmutation|transmutation]] doping of [[Chemistry:Silicon|silicon]]
*[[Medicine:Nuclear medicine|Nuclear medicine]] production from irradiated gold
*[[Chemistry:Arsenic|Arsenic]] dose measuring using a sample from hairs
*Experiments related to [[Engineering:Molten salt reactor|molten salt]] for use as reactor coolant

The MITR is one of only six facilities in the world that was engaged in patient trials for the use of [[Biology:Boron neutron capture therapy|boron neutron capture therapy]] (BNCT) to treat both brain tumors and [[Medicine:Skin cancer|skin cancer]]. The MITR fission converter beam is the first to be designed for BNCT. The facility no longer conducts BNCT trials.

The reactor has been criticized by Miles Pomper of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies for having insufficiently unique uses relative to the risk of using highly enriched uranium.<ref name="WaPo LEU" />

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
File:MIT nuclear reactor metropolitan warehouse.jpg|MITR, along with the Metropolitan Storage Warehouse, viewed from MIT Building 37.
File:MIT nuclear reactor metropolitan warehouse night.jpg|Night time view from the same location. Fog produced by the cooling towers is brightly illuminated by floodlights.
File:Nuclear Research Reactor (MIT) 04.jpg|Close up view of the reactor.
</gallery>

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite report | last1 = Perez | first1 = Pedro B. | last2 = Richards | first2 = Wade J. | date = 2000-02-22 | title = University Research Reactors: Contributing to the National Scientific and Engineering Infrastructure from 1953 to 2000 and Beyond | publisher = National Organization of Test, Research and Training Reactors| agency = NERAC Subcommittee to Analyze the Future of University Nuclear Engineering and Research Reactors | url = http://www.trtr.org/Links/TRTR_February.html | access-date = 2021-12-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070701191521/http://www.trtr.org/Links/TRTR_February.html | archive-date = 2007-07-01 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}
* {{Cite Q| Q34191347l | title = Performance characteristics of the MIT fission converter based epithermal neutron beam | first1=K.J.| last1 = Riley | first2 = P.J. | last2 = Binns | first3 = O.K. | last3 = Harling | journal = [[Medicine:Physics in Medicine and Biology|Physics in Medicine and Biology]] | publisher = [[Organization:Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine|Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine]] | volume = 48 | pages = 943–958 | issue = 7 | issn = 0031-9155 | eissn = 1361-6560 | lccn = 58049741 | oclc = 1762343 | df = dmy-all }}
* {{Cite report | author =  MITR Staff | title = Safety Analysis Report for the MIT Research Reactor (MITR-II), MITNE-15 | publisher = Nuclear Engineering Department {{!}} Massachusetts Institute of Technology | date = 1970-10-01 | df = dmy-all}}
{{refend}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="MITR-I_1stCrit">{{cite web | url = https://nrl.mit.edu/announcements/2021/today-in-nrl-history-july-21st-1958 | date = 2021-07-21| title = Today in NRL history - July 21st, 1958 | last1 = Taylor | first1 = Tracy | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211018194703/https://nrl.mit.edu/announcements/2021/today-in-nrl-history-july-21st-1958 | archive-date = 2021-10-18 | url-status = live | quote = Today marks 63 years since the MITR-I first achieved criticality! The MITR-I was the first core configuration of the MIT Reactor (MITR) and was in operation from 1958 until 1973 (when the conversion to the MITR-II, the MITR's current core configuration, began). | website = Nuclear Reactor Laboratory {{!}} Massachusetts Institute of Technology | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="MITR_Facilities">{{cite web | url = https://nrl.mit.edu/research/reactor-experiments | url-access =  | title = Reactor Experiments {{!}} Facilities  | date = n.d. | website = Nuclear Reactor Laboratory {{!}} Massachusetts Institute of Technology  | language = en-us | access-date = 2021-12-27 | url-status =live  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211224223006/https://nrl.mit.edu/research/reactor-experiments | archive-date = 2021-12-24 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="MITR_Reactor">{{cite web | url = https://nrl.mit.edu/reactor | url-access =  | title = Reactor {{!}} The Reactor at MIT  | date = n.d. | website = Nuclear Reactor Laboratory {{!}} Massachusetts Institute of Technology  | language = en-us | access-date = 2021-12-27 | url-status =live  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211224225608/https://nrl.mit.edu/reactor | archive-date = 2021-12-24 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="MITR_CoreDescription">{{cite web | url = https://nrl.mit.edu/reactor/core-description | title = Reactor {{!}} Core Description  | date = n.d. | website = Nuclear Reactor Laboratory {{!}} Massachusetts Institute of Technology  | language = en-us | access-date = 2021-12-27 | url-status =live  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211224223044/https://nrl.mit.edu/reactor/core-description | archive-date = 2021-12-24 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="MITR_Cooling">{{cite web | url = https://nrl.mit.edu/reactor/reactor-systems| title = Reactor {{!}} Reactor Systems {{!}} Cooling Systems | date = n.d. | website = Nuclear Reactor Laboratory {{!}} Massachusetts Institute of Technology  | language = en-us | access-date = 2021-12-27 | url-status =live  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211224223200/https://nrl.mit.edu/reactor/reactor-systems | archive-date = 2021-12-24 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="Yen_1986">{{cite news | last1 = Yen | first1 = Earl C. | date = 1986-01-29 | url = http://tech.mit.edu/V105/N59/nucle.59n.html | title = Cambridge evaluates MIT's nuclear reactor | access-date = 2021-12-24 | work = The Tech | volume = 105 | issue = 59 | issn = 0148-9607 | oclc = 3406944 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210216120223/http://tech.mit.edu/V105/N59/nucle.59n.html | archive-date = 2021-02-16 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="IAEA_ResearchReactorDatabase">{{cite web |title = IAEA Research Reactors Database (RRDB) | url = https://nucleus.iaea.org/rrdb/#/home | access-date = 2021-12-27 | url-status = live | agency = [[Organization:International Atomic Energy Agency|International Atomic Energy Agency]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211227140435/https://nucleus.iaea.org/rrdb/ | archive-date = 2021-12-27 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="Reducing HEU">{{cite book |title=Reducing the use of highly enriched uranium in civilian research reactors |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=National Academies Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-0309379182 |url=https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21818/reducing-the-use-of-highly-enriched-uranium-in-civilian-research-reactors}}</ref>

<ref name="WaPo LEU">{{cite web |title=Conversion of MIT reactor to safer fuel pushed to 2027 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/09/02/conversion-mit-reactor-safer-fuel-delayed/yTTEPTH7HP6quilQfeegMO/story.html |work=The Boston Globe |first=Dan |last=Adams |date=September 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923113331/https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/09/02/conversion-mit-reactor-safer-fuel-delayed/yTTEPTH7HP6quilQfeegMO/story.html |archive-date=September 23, 2021}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
*[http://web.mit.edu/annualreports/pres05/03.12.pdf 2004-5 Report to the MIT President]
*[https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/LooseNukes/story?id=988795 ABC's Radioactive Roadtrip Security Review]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070430144141/http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2005/10/25/News/Mit-Nuclear.Reactor.Scrutinized-1032799.shtml Refuting of ABC's claims about reactor by Cambridge Mayor]

{{MITtemplate}}


[[Category:Nuclear research reactors]]

{{Sourceattribution|MIT Nuclear Research Reactor}}