F-1 (nuclear reactor)

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F-1
RIAN archive 500897 Control panel of the first Russian nuclear reactor.jpg
Control panel of the reactor
Official namePhysics-1
CountrySoviet Union, now Russian Federation
LocationMoscow
Coordinates55°47′46″N 37°28′43″E / 55.79611°N 37.47861°E / 55.79611; 37.47861Coordinates: 55°47′46″N 37°28′43″E / 55.79611°N 37.47861°E / 55.79611; 37.47861
StatusPermanent Shutdown
Construction began15 November 1946
Commission date26 December 1946
Owner(s)Russian Research Centre, Kurchatov Institute
Operator(s)Russian Research Centre, Kurchatov Institute
Nuclear power station
Reactor typeGraphite Pile
Reactor supplierRussia
Thermal power station
Primary fuel46411Kg of natural uranium metal
Tertiary fuel41Kg of 2% enriched uranium
Power generation
Capacity factor24 kWt

The F-1 (from "First Physical Reactor") is a research reactor operated by the Kurchatov Institute in Moscow, Russia. When started on December 25, 1946, it became the first nuclear reactor in Europe to achieve a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.[1] It was still in operation in the beginning of the 2010s, with a power level of 24 kW, making it, at that time, the world's oldest operating reactor. The fuel in F-1 is metallic uranium with the natural content of the 235 U isotope (0.72%), graphite as a moderator, and cadmium rods to control the neutron flux. Structurally, it is a spherical structure with a diameter of about 6 meters, made of loose graphite bricks. The graphite stack has holes in which fuel and control rods are placed, as well as research and control equipment. The weight of graphite is 400 tons, uranium is 50 tons.

Thermal power of the reactor is from 100 W to 1 MW. Air cooling, if necessary, was provided by fans. Long-term operation at high power was not possible, but the large mass of the core allowed a short-term increase in power to peak values.[2] In November 2016 it was in permanent shutdown state.[3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The World's Oldest Operating Reactor: The Russian F-1". The Nuclear Weapon Archive. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  2. ^ Vakhroucheva, Elizaveta. "Division of System Analysis Elektronika Information and Computer Complex Engineering and Production Division". Kurchatov Institute. NTI. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  3. ^ "IAEA Research Reactor Database". Retrieved 29 November 2016.

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