The design and construction of a subcritical nuclear reactor

Abstract

A subcritical heterogeneous nuclear reactor was designed and constructed for use in the nuclear engineering program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Natural uranium fuel and reactor grade graphite were used as building materials.

Considering that no two samples of moderator have the same characteristics, the resulting parameters measured on this reactor are in good agreement with published data. The reactor performs the primary function as a versatile laboratory instrument that can measure as many reactor parameters as possible.