National Reactor Testing Station

A series of tests were performed at the AFC s National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho, starting in 1953. The reactor was situated outdoors, and was operated remotely. The core of the first version had fuel assembhes of aluminum and enriched uranium plates of the Materials Testing Reactor (MTR) type, installed in a water tank. One of the five control rods could be ejected downward and out of the core by spring action upon intermption of a magnet... 

The first experimental breeder reactor (EBR-1), which was the first reactor to generate electricity on a practical basis, went into operation in 1951 at the National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho. After the first reactor was damaged by a power excursion, EBR-11 was put into operation in 1961 (57). As of early 1995 it continued to operate very well. 

One was a water-moderated and water-cooled pressurized reactor the other was a Hquid-metal-cooled iatermediate neutron energy reactor. A land-based prototype submafine power plant called Mark I was built and tested at the National Reactor Testing Station. Argonne National Laboratory provided scientific data and Bettis Laboratory of Westinghouse Electric Corp. suppHed engineering expertise. 

Paige, B. E., "Leachability of Glass Prepared from Highly Radioactive Calcined Alumina Waste," National Reactor Testing Station, Rept. IDO-14672, (February, 1966). 

The SL-1 (Stationary Low Power No. 1) was a 3-MW (thermal) boiling water reactor operated by military personnel at the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho. As a result of interference with the control rods, there was an explosion on 3 January 1961 in which about 5 tonne of coolant were expelled from the pressure vessel (Horan Gammil, 1963). 

Bunch, D.F. (1968) Controlled environmental radioiodine tests at the National Reactor Testing Station. Report IDO 12063. Idaho Falls, Idaho NRTS. 

Islitzer, N.F. (1962) The role of meteorology following the nuclear accident in south east Idaho. Report IDO 19310. National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho Falls, Idaho. 

High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Program at the National Reactor Testing Station... 

Markham, O. D., Environmental and Radiological Monitoring at the National Reactor Testing Station During FY-1973, Paper at Symposium... 

Waste Disposal on the Geochemistry of Water at the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho, 1952-1970, USAEC Report IDO-22053, Feb 1974. 

Allied Chemical Corp., Idaho Chemical Programs—Operations Office, National Reactor Testing Station, 550 Second St., Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401... 

On January 3, 1961, the SL 1 reactor at the National Reactor Testing Station experienced an excursion that killed the three operators on duty at Uie time. Immediate etforts were devoted to the removal of the victims and to assuring the safety ot the reactor. In May 1961, the General Electric Conq>any was called upon to undertake recovery operations with the objectives of gathering evi- dence as to the causes of the accident and of cleaning up the area and restoring.it to useful service. 

The over-all recovery plan started with steps to lower radiation levels, concurrent with the gathering of evidence from the reactor building. Following this, much of the equipment and structure above the reactor pressure vessel was removed, permitting the final step of removing the pressure vessel and transporting. it to the Hot Shop in the north end of the National Reactor Testing Station, where specialized equipment was available to dismantle and examine the core. 

The Zero Power Plutonium Reactor (ZPPR) Is a split-table-type experimental reactor operated by Argonne National Laboratory at the National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho. 

Markham, O.D. (1974). Environmental and radiological monitoring at the National Reactor Testing Station during FY 1973 (July 1972-June 1973), Radiat. Data Rep. 227. 

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