UF Training Reactor

The University of Florida Training Reactor (UFTR), commissioned in 1959, is a 100 kW modified Argonaut-type reactor at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The UFTR is a light water and graphite moderated, graphite reflected, light water cooled reactor designed and used primarily for training and nuclear research related activities. The UFTR is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is the only research reactor in Florida.

The UFTR resumed operations in April, 2015 after a multi-year facility refurbishment to upgrade the physical infrastructure, including new low enrichment uranium (LEU) fuel, nuclear instrumentation systems, process instrumentation replacement of the HVAC systems, physical security systems, and reactor instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. The reactor's power level is regulated by cadmium blades that act as mechanical shim (analogous to control rods in a pressurized water reactor). Nominal maximum thermal flux density for the UFTR is 1.8E12 neutrons/cm2·s.

The UFTR is integral to the Nuclear Engineering Program (NEP) at the University of Florida and it offers the ability for students to learn the fundamentals of nuclear operation, neutron detection, and reactor physics. The UFTR also offers unique training opportunities for students enrolled at other educational institutions as well as future reactor operators or technical experts at commercial nuclear plants since it enables the ability to perform and analyze reactor manipulations not often performed at commercial facilities. Courses offered using the UFTR include a Radiation Detection Lab, Neutronics Lab, Reactor Experiments Lab, and Reactor Operations Lab.

Services offered to the UF community and external academic, government and corporate users include:

• Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)
• Neutron Irradiation
• Radiation Effects Testing on Materials
• Research Partnerships
• Training

The University of Florida NEP has seven primary faculty, five affiliated faculty, 100 enrolled undergraduate majors, and 40 masters and doctoral students. The departmental facilities include, in addition to the UFTR, a uranium metal-fueled sub-critical facility, a high-output fusion neutron generator irradiation laboratory, 1 and 10 curie Plutonium-Beryllium (Pu-Be) neutron sources, a radiochemistry laboratory with hot-cell and decontamination capabilities, a neutron activation analysis laboratory, and multi-user nuclear instrumentation laboratory work stations.

External links

• Nuclear Engineering Program Website
• UF Neutronics Lab

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

References

1. ^ "Newly Refurbished UF Training Reactor Comes Back Online". UF College of Engineering. April 17, 2015. 
2. ^ "UF nuclear reactor undergoing renovations". Fox 35 News Orlando. April 15, 2015.