View source for MIT Nuclear Research Reactor

{{short description|Research nuclear reactor}}
{{Infobox reactor
|name             = MITR-II
|institution      = [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
|location         = [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]]
| image              = MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory - Tower Tech Cooling Tower.jpg
| image_size         = 
| caption            = MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[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" />|[[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 [[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 [[heavy water]] as a reflector. It is the second largest university-based [[research reactor]] in the [[United States|U.S.]] (after the [[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 [[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 [[nuclear proliferation|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]] fuel assemblies.<ref name="MITR_CoreDescription" />  Power is controlled by six manual boron-stainless steel blade-type [[control rod]]s and one aluminum with [[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 [[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 [[cooling tower]]s – model TTXL-081950.<ref>{{cite sign | title = unit placard}}</ref>

The reactor uses [[Enriched uranium#Highly enriched uranium (HEU)|highly enriched uranium 235]] fuel, in the form of uranium-aluminum [[cermet]] with [[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 [[nuclear power plant]]s and most [[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:

*[[Neutron activation]] analysis for the identification of trace elements and isotope ratios in geological specimens
*Fission engineering
*Materials testing
*Training
*Neutron [[Nuclear transmutation|transmutation]] doping of [[silicon]]
*[[Nuclear medicine]] production from irradiated gold
*[[Arsenic]] dose measuring using a sample from hairs
*Experiments related to [[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 [[boron neutron capture therapy]] (BNCT) to treat both [[glioblastoma multiforme|brain tumors]] and [[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; 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 = [[Physics in Medicine and Biology]] | publisher = [[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 (newspaper)|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 = [[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 ==
*{{Official website}}
*[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]
*{{commons category-inline|Nuclear Reactor Laboratory (MIT Building NW12)}}

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{{U.S. Research Reactors}}

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[[Category:Nuclear research reactors]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology buildings]]