The Frank H. Neely Nuclear Research Center, also known as the Neely Research Reactor and the Georgia Tech Research Reactor was a nuclear engineering research center on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus, which housed a 5 megawatt heavy water moderated and cooled research reactor from 1961 until 1995.[1] It was decommissioned in November 1999.[2] The building that housed the reactor was demolished to make way for the Marcus Nanotechnology Research Center.
Neely Nuclear Research Center | |
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Former names | Neely Research Reactor Georgia Tech Research Reactor |
General information | |
Location | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
Address | 900 Atlantic Drive NW |
Coordinates | 33°46′47″N 84°23′53″W / 33.779609°N 84.39815°W |
Current tenants | Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Program Georgia Tech Research Institute |
Completed | 1963 |
Demolished | 2000 |
Owner | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 1 |
The center is named for Frank H. Neely, a Georgia Tech graduate and businessman who organized the first Georgia Nuclear Advisory Commission, an essential step in the creation of the reactor and associated facilities.[3]
History
editThe center and associated reactor was built after campus president Blake R. Van Leer appointed a Nuclear Science Committee, which included Georgia Tech Research Institute director James E. Boyd.[4][5]
The committee recommended the creation of a Radioisotopes Laboratory Facility and a large research reactor. The laboratory was built and dedicated on January 7, 1959, and could receive, store, and process radioactive materials.[4] The research reactor would be completed in 1963.
The reactor was shut down in 1988 due to safety concerns,[6] and was defueled due to safety concerns related to the nearby 1996 Summer Olympics events.[4]
The reactor building was torn down after the decommissioning, with the remainder removed as of 2015.
References
edit- ^ "History of the Georgia Tech Research Reactor" (PDF). Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- ^ "Research Reactor Decommissioning" (PDF). CH2M Hill. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-03-11. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- ^ "Frank H. Neely Papers". Georgia Tech Library. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ a b c "James E. Boyd" (PDF). Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ "History Makers". Georgia Tech Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ "Georgia Tech Closes Its Reactor, Citing Continued Safety Concerns". The New York Times. 1988-02-16. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
External links
edit- Georgia Tech Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Program
- Neely Nuclear Research Center on the Georgia Tech Campus Map