Jump to content

Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Difference between revisions

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (view source)

Revision as of 01:02, 23 January 2025

8 bytes removed ,  23 January
m
Text replacement - "Lyndon B. Johnson" to "Lyndon B. Johnson"
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
m (Text replacement - "Lyndon B. Johnson" to "Lyndon B. Johnson")
Line 38: Line 38:
[[File:MSRE Core.JPG|thumb|The core of the [[Molten Salt Reactor Experiment]]]]
[[File:MSRE Core.JPG|thumb|The core of the [[Molten Salt Reactor Experiment]]]]


In 1950 the [[Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology]] was established with two courses in reactor operation and safety; almost 1,000 students graduated.<ref name=swords/> Much of the research performed at ORNL in the 1950s was related to nuclear reactors as a form of energy production, both for propulsion and electricity. More reactors were built in the 1950s than in the rest of the ORNL's history combined.<ref name=swords/> One of their most influential projects was the [[light-water reactor]], a precursor to many modern nuclear power stations. The [[United States Armed Forces|US Military]] funded much of its development, for [[Nuclear marine propulsion|nuclear-powered submarines and ships]] of the [[US Navy]].<ref name="swords" /> The [[US Army]] also contracted the design of portable nuclear reactors in 1953 for heat and electricity generation in remote military bases.<ref name="timeline">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v36_1_03/timeline/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040221093626/http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v36_1_03/timeline/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2004 |title=ORNL Review Timeline |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=November 11, 2012 }}</ref>  The reactors were produced by the [[American Locomotive Company]] and used in [[Greenland]], the [[Panama Canal Zone]], and [[Antarctica]].<ref name="swords" />  The [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]] also contributed funding to three reactors, the lab's first computers, and its first particle accelerators.<ref name="swords" /> ORNL built its [[Aircraft Reactor Experiment|first molten salt reactor in 1954]] as a proof-of-concept for a proposed fleet of [[Strategic bomber|long-range bombers]], but it was never used.<ref name="swords" /><ref name="timeline" />[[File:Pentecost-johnson-ellington-gore-ornl.jpg|thumb|Cayce Pentecost, [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], [[Buford Ellington]] and [[Albert Gore Sr.]] operating mechanical hands at a hot cell at Oak Ridge, on October 19, 1958.]]Alvin M. Weinberg was named Director of Research, ORNL, and in 1955 Director of the Laboratory.<ref name="swords" /><ref name=":1" /> In the early 1960s there was a large push at ORNL to develop nuclear-powered [[desalination]] plants, where deserts met the sea, to provide water. The project, called Water for Peace, was backed by [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and was presented at a 1964 United Nations conference, but increases in the cost of construction and falling public confidence in nuclear power caused the plan to be shuttered.<ref name="swords" /><ref name="timeline" /> The Health Physics Research Reactor built in 1962 was used for [[radiation exposure]] experiments leading to more accurate [[Dosimetry|dosage limits]] and [[dosimeter]]s, and improved [[Radiation protection|radiation shielding]].<ref name="swords" />
In 1950 the [[Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology]] was established with two courses in reactor operation and safety; almost 1,000 students graduated.<ref name=swords/> Much of the research performed at ORNL in the 1950s was related to nuclear reactors as a form of energy production, both for propulsion and electricity. More reactors were built in the 1950s than in the rest of the ORNL's history combined.<ref name=swords/> One of their most influential projects was the [[light-water reactor]], a precursor to many modern nuclear power stations. The [[United States Armed Forces|US Military]] funded much of its development, for [[Nuclear marine propulsion|nuclear-powered submarines and ships]] of the [[US Navy]].<ref name="swords" /> The [[US Army]] also contracted the design of portable nuclear reactors in 1953 for heat and electricity generation in remote military bases.<ref name="timeline">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v36_1_03/timeline/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040221093626/http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/v36_1_03/timeline/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2004 |title=ORNL Review Timeline |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=November 11, 2012 }}</ref>  The reactors were produced by the [[American Locomotive Company]] and used in [[Greenland]], the [[Panama Canal Zone]], and [[Antarctica]].<ref name="swords" />  The [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]] also contributed funding to three reactors, the lab's first computers, and its first particle accelerators.<ref name="swords" /> ORNL built its [[Aircraft Reactor Experiment|first molten salt reactor in 1954]] as a proof-of-concept for a proposed fleet of [[Strategic bomber|long-range bombers]], but it was never used.<ref name="swords" /><ref name="timeline" />[[File:Pentecost-johnson-ellington-gore-ornl.jpg|thumb|Cayce Pentecost, Lyndon B. Johnson, [[Buford Ellington]] and [[Albert Gore Sr.]] operating mechanical hands at a hot cell at Oak Ridge, on October 19, 1958.]]Alvin M. Weinberg was named Director of Research, ORNL, and in 1955 Director of the Laboratory.<ref name="swords" /><ref name=":1" /> In the early 1960s there was a large push at ORNL to develop nuclear-powered [[desalination]] plants, where deserts met the sea, to provide water. The project, called Water for Peace, was backed by [[John F. Kennedy]] and Lyndon B. Johnson and was presented at a 1964 United Nations conference, but increases in the cost of construction and falling public confidence in nuclear power caused the plan to be shuttered.<ref name="swords" /><ref name="timeline" /> The Health Physics Research Reactor built in 1962 was used for [[radiation exposure]] experiments leading to more accurate [[Dosimetry|dosage limits]] and [[dosimeter]]s, and improved [[Radiation protection|radiation shielding]].<ref name="swords" />


In 1964 the [[Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment]] began with the construction of the reactor. It operated from 1966 until 1969 (with six months down time to move from [[Uranium-235|U-235]] to [[Uranium-233|U-233]] fuel) and proved the viability of [[molten salt reactor]]s, while also producing fuel for other reactors as a byproduct of its own reaction.<ref name="swords" /> The [[High Flux Isotope Reactor]] built in 1965 had the highest [[neutron flux]] of any reactor at the time.<ref name="swords" /> It improved upon the work of the X-10 reactor, producing more medical isotopes as well as allowing higher fidelity of materials research.<ref name="swords" /> Researchers in the biology division studied the effects of chemicals on mice, including [[air pollution|petrol fumes]], [[Health effects of pesticides|pesticides]], and [[Health effects of tobacco|tobacco]].<ref name="swords" />  
In 1964 the [[Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment]] began with the construction of the reactor. It operated from 1966 until 1969 (with six months down time to move from [[Uranium-235|U-235]] to [[Uranium-233|U-233]] fuel) and proved the viability of [[molten salt reactor]]s, while also producing fuel for other reactors as a byproduct of its own reaction.<ref name="swords" /> The [[High Flux Isotope Reactor]] built in 1965 had the highest [[neutron flux]] of any reactor at the time.<ref name="swords" /> It improved upon the work of the X-10 reactor, producing more medical isotopes as well as allowing higher fidelity of materials research.<ref name="swords" /> Researchers in the biology division studied the effects of chemicals on mice, including [[air pollution|petrol fumes]], [[Health effects of pesticides|pesticides]], and [[Health effects of tobacco|tobacco]].<ref name="swords" />  
Retrieved from ‘https://openusaproject.com/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/22377’