Earlier projects Idaho National Laboratory

1 earlier projects

1.1 experimental breeder reactor-i (ebr-i)
1.2 fatal incident
1.3 incidents: container leaks plutonium-related-materials
1.4 experimental breeder reactor-ii (ebr-ii)
1.5 loss of fluid test (loft) facility
1.6 test area north
1.7 naval reactors facility (nrf)
1.8 materials test reactor (mtr)
1.9 borax experiments
1.10 other sites

earlier projects
experimental breeder reactor-i (ebr-i)


the first 4 bulbs lit electricity nuclear power hung near generator on second floor of ebr-i

in afternoon of december 20, 1951, argonne national laboratory scientist walter zinn , small crew of assistants witnessed row of 4 light bulbs light in nondescript brick building in eastern idaho desert. electricity generator connected experimental breeder reactor-i (ebr-i) flowed through them. first time usable amount of electrical power had ever been generated nuclear fission.

only days afterward, reactor produced electricity needed entire ebr complex. 1 ton of natural uranium can produce more 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity — equivalent burning 16,000 tons of coal or 80,000 barrels of oil.

more central ebr-i s purpose generating electricity, however, role in proving reactor create more nuclear fuel by-product consumed during operation. in 1953, tests verified case. site of event memorialized registered national historic landmark, open public every day memorial day through labor day.

fatal incident


the sl-1 reactor vessel being removed reactor building. had jumped on 9 feet (2.7 m) during accident.

on january 3, 1961, fatal nuclear reactor incident in u.s. occurred @ nrts. experimental reactor called sl-1 (stationary low-power plant number 1) destroyed when control rod pulled far out of reactor, leading core meltdown , steam explosion. reactor vessel jumped 9 feet 1 inch (2.77 m). concussion , blast killed 3 military enlisted personnel working on reactor. due extensive radioactive isotope contamination, 3 buried in lead coffins. events subject of 2 books, 1 published in 2003, idaho falls: untold story of america s first nuclear accident, , another, atomic america: how deadly explosion , feared admiral changed course of nuclear history, published in 2009.

incidents: container leaks plutonium-related-materials

on november 8, 2011 in 0 power physics reactor (zppr) in afternoon container leaked plutonium-related materials, when opened 1 of workers. 17 workers @ incident taken have testing done idaho cleanup project in form of whole body counts (scans body internal radiation exposure) , required submit urine , fecal samples further test internal radioisotopes. 6 of them proved exposed low-level-radiation , 2 of them extensively. workers kept under close observation afterwards repeated whole body counts , urine , fecal sampling. idaho national laboratory insisted no radioactivity leaked outside facility.

experimental breeder reactor-ii (ebr-ii)

from 1969 1994, argonne national laboratory s ebr-ii produced half of electricity needed test site operations.

in 1964, experimental breeder reactor ii , nearby fuel conditioning facility proved concept of fuel recycling , passive safety characteristics. so-called passive safety includes systems rely on natural physics laws such gravity rather systems require mechanical or human intervention.

in landmark test on april 3, 1986, such systems in ebr-ii demonstrated nuclear power plants designed inherently safe severe accidents.

de-commissioning of ebr-ii began in october 1994 removal of 637 fuel assemblies.

loss of fluid test (loft) facility

the loss-of-fluid-test reactor

the world’s first loss-of-fluid-test reactor started @ inl on march 12, 1976. repeatedly simulated loss-of-coolant accidents potentially occur in commercial nuclear power plants. many safety designs reactors around world based on these tests. loft experiments helped accident recovery efforts after 3 mile island accident in 1979.

test area north

in 1949, area of fringe of nrts property named test area north , or tan, developed u.s. air force , atomic energy commission support aircraft nuclear propulsion program s attempt develop nuclear-powered aircraft. programs heat transfer reactor experiments (htre) conducted here in 1955 contractor general electric, , series of tests develop system of transferring reactor-heated air modified general electric j47 jet engine. planned aircraft, convair x-6, test flown @ tan, , large hangar radiation shielding built on site. program cancelled, however, before accompanying 15,000-foot (4,600 m) runway built.

naval reactors facility (nrf)

in 1950s, first full-scale prototype nuclear plant shipboard use, called s1w prototype, constructed test feasibility of using nuclear power aboard submarines. predecessor similar nuclear plant of s2w design installed in first nuclear-powered ship, submarine uss nautilus (ssn-571). later, 2 more prototype plant facilities, a1w , s5g, built @ location called naval reactors facility (nrf short). there expended core facility (ecf short) @ nrf administrative buildings/facilities. nrf s chemistry lab located @ s1w prototype. now, prototype plants shipboard use development have been shut down. expended core facility / dry storage area in use.

materials test reactor (mtr)

when nuclear industry getting started in 1950s, difficult predict how different kinds of metals , other materials affected being used in reactor prolonged periods of time. mtr research reactor jointly designed argonne , oak ridge national laboratories operated until 1970 , provided important data, helping researchers make nuclear power reactors safer , longer lasting.

borax experiments


the borax iii reactor.

the boiling water reactors (borax) experiments 5 reactors built between 1953 , 1964 argonne national laboratory. proved boiling water concept feasible design electricity-producing nuclear reactor. 1 of borax reactors (iii) first in world power city (arco, idaho) on july 17, 1955.

other sites

the idaho chemical processing plant chemically processed material used reactor cores recover reusable nuclear material. called idaho nuclear technology , engineering center.

the materials test area tested materials exposure reactor conditions. materials test area part of advanced test reactor complex.