[Boatanchors] Boatanchor folks: See?

[rbethman]

The "reactor" in the Squash Court, under the stadium at the University 
of Chicago was built using graphite bricks as the Moderator.

The control rods were vertical, and controlled "manually" by pulling 
ropes that were attached to the rods, and ran through pulleys attached 
to the ceiling.

The term "SCRAM" came from this experiment.  It was the "code word" that 
meant "Stop! Cut Ropes And Move.".  This was their only method to stop 
the reaction in the event that it got out of control.

The big red button in Nuclear Power Plant control rooms are labeled on 
their heads - SCRAM.

This term has been in use ever since.

The U.S. Army put the first Nuclear Reactor on a commercial Power Grid 
on April 15, 1957.  It was designated SM-1.  It was a pressurized water 
reactor.

It was decommissioned in the time frame 1973 - 1974.

It is now actually part of the Smithsonian Museum.  Although prior 
arrangements and approval are required to gain entrance.

It is located at the far back end of Fort Belvoir, VA.  Gunston cove 
provided the secondary cooling source.

Bob - N0DGN


On 12/18/2012 5:55 PM, Duane Fischer, W8DBF wrote:
> And I wonder just how many on this list know who Fermi was? Especially 
> those in Chicago?
>