University of Massachusetts Lowell Radiation Laboratory

UMLRR
UMLRR
	Location of UMLRR
Operating Institution	University of Massachusetts Lowell
Location	Lowell, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°39′17″N 71°19′30″W / 42.65472°N 71.32500°W
Type	Pool
Power	860420650 cal(th)/h
Construction and Upkeep
Construction Cost	$1.2 million USD
Construction Began	1974
First Criticality	1975 January 2
Annual Upkeep Cost	$0.3 million USD
Staff	2
Operators	6
Technical Specifications
Max Thermal Flux	1.4e13 n/cm^2-s
Max Fast Flux	9.2e12 n/cm^2-s
Fuel Type	plate type ; 18 per assembly
Cooling	light water
Neutron Moderator	light water
Neutron Reflector	graphite, light water
Control Rods	Boron-Aluminium-Carbide (Boral) ; 4 per element
Cladding Material	aluminium alloy

The Radiation Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Lowell serves the Department of Applied Physics among others. The laboratory contains the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Reactor (UMLRR), a 1 MW pool-type research reactor^[1] that has been operating since 1974, along with a 300 kCi Co-60 gamma ray source and a 5.5 MeV Van de Graaff accelerator.

Reactor

The first startup was on January 2, 1975.^[2] A budget for the reactor is not provided by the university or the state; funding comes from customer irradiations, grants, and the United States Department of Energy.^[3]^[4]

Conversion to LEU

The UMass Lowell reactor has been one of the many research reactors to make the conversion from high-enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) as a part of anti-terrorism security measures.^[5] The used HEU fuel was reportedly shipped to the Savannah River Site. The original shipping date was June 2002 but had been postponed many times. As of present-day the shipments have been made and the reactor is in operation with LEU.

Neutron Irradiation Capabilities

Neutron irradiation facilities at the UMLRR include: 1x 8-inch beam port, 2x 6-inch beam ports, in-core radiation baskets & flux trap, thermal column, and fast neutron irradiator (FNI).^[6]

References

^ "University of Massachusetts, Lowell - Safety Analysis Report, (Chapters 1-7) Redacted For Public Release" (PDF). US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
^ "Nuclear Research Reactors in the World". Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
^ Velella, Rob. "Nuclear Fallout" from The UMass Lowell Connector (student newspaper). November 20, 2001. p. 1
^ Binney, S.E.; S.R. Reese; D.S. Pratt (February 22, 2000). "University Research Reactors: Contributing to the National Scientific and Engineering Infrastructure from 1953 to 2000 and Beyond". National Organization of Test, Research and Training Reactors. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
^ "Bridge Servlets" (PDF). www.osti.gov.
^ "University of Massachusetts, Lowell - Safety Analysis Report (Chapters 8 - 15) Redacted For Public Release" (PDF). US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

External links

[1] "University of Massachusetts, Lowell - Safety Analysis Report, (Chapters 1-7) Redacted For Public Release" (PDF). US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

[2] "Nuclear Research Reactors in the World". Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-05-16.

[3] Velella, Rob. "Nuclear Fallout" from The UMass Lowell Connector (student newspaper). November 20, 2001. p. 1

[TRTR-4] Binney, S.E.; S.R. Reese; D.S. Pratt (February 22, 2000). "University Research Reactors: Contributing to the National Scientific and Engineering Infrastructure from 1953 to 2000 and Beyond". National Organization of Test, Research and Training Reactors. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2007.

[5] "Bridge Servlets" (PDF). www.osti.gov.

[6] "University of Massachusetts, Lowell - Safety Analysis Report (Chapters 8 - 15) Redacted For Public Release" (PDF). US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e University of Massachusetts Lowell
Located in: Lowell, Massachusetts
Academics	Kennedy College of Sciences Manning School of Business
Research	Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute Radiation Laboratory
Campus	Allen House Kenneth R. Fox Student Union Middlesex County Training School (West Campus) Wannalancit Mills
Athletics	UMass Lowell River Hawks Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's ice hockey Men's lacrosse Men's soccer Costello Athletic Center LeLacheur Park Tsongas Center America East Conference Hockey East
Student life	Housing Marching band WUML
Chancellors	William T. Hogan Marty Meehan Jacqueline Moloney Julie Chen
Founded: 1894

v t e United States research reactors
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Licensed and operating research reactors (university-based)	Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute Cornell University Idaho State University Kansas State University Missouri University of Science and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology North Carolina State University Ohio State University Oregon State University Penn State University Purdue University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Texas A&M University University of Arizona University of California University of Florida University of Maryland University of Massachusetts Lowell University of Michigan University of Missouri University of New Mexico University of Texas at Austin University of Utah University of Wisconsin-Madison Washington State University Worcester Polytechnic Institute
U.S. company-operated research reactors	Aerotest Operations Inc. Dow Chemical Company General Electric Company Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Veterans Administration
U.S. National Labs with nuclear research reactors	Argonne National Laboratory Brookhaven National Laboratory (All Shut down) Hanford Site Idaho National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory Savannah River Site