page_title: North Carolina State University reactor program
section_title: Current reactor operations
hierarchical_section_title: North Carolina State University reactor program / Current reactor operations
context_page_description: North Carolina State University in 1950 founded the first university-based reactor program and Nuclear Engineering curriculum in the United States. The program continues in the early 21st century. That year, NC State College administrators approved construction of a reactor and the establishment of a collegiate nuclear engineering program. The first research reactor was completed in 1953; it was scaled up in 1957 and 1960. It was deactivated in 1973 to make way for the PULSTAR reactor. The old reactor has been decommissioned.
  The PULSTAR is used for a variety of purposes, including training and research. The reactor is located in Burlington Engineering laboratories on NCSU's main campus. This facility was built to house the first reactor and then expanded and renamed when the PULSTAR was built. The current reactor is one of two PULSTAR reactors built, and the only one still in operation. The other reactor was a 2 MW reactor at the State University of New York at Buffalo. It went critical in 1964 and was decommissioned in 1994.
context_section_description: The PULSTAR reactor is situated along Engineering Row in the main campus, surrounded by Mann Hall, Daniels, Polk Hall, and a park.  The reactor has a dedicated building and uses one cooling tower; it releases water vapor when the reactor is at high power. This building is not a Containment building, but it maintains a negative pressure to prevent any release of radioactive material. The reactor can be operated up to a power of 100 kW on natural circulation, or 1 Megawatt (MW) with the use of pumps.
  The reactor enriches the department curricula by providing hands on experience as well as training for students.  In 2002, department enrollment was 72 total undergraduate students, 15 masters students, and 22 PhD students, all of whom use the reactor.  Additionally, 34 researches outside of Nuclear Engineering use the reactor and associated facilities.
  The primary research purpose of the reactor is to provide a neutron source for activities such as Neutron activation analysis.  For example, cobalt-60 irradiators are used by a number of departments to sterilize biological samples.  It is also used for professional training for nuclear utility operators and engineers, DOE Interns, and State and local radiation protection personnel.
  This reactor is well suited for duplicating the fuel performance of power reactors.  The core consists of low-enriched Uranium pins intended to be very similar to what is used in commercial nuclear power plants. Five beam ports are adjacent to the core of the reactor.  This reactor is well suited for experiments requiring a large neutron flux because peaking occurs around the edge of the core due to under moderation. In September 2007, students, faculty and staff produced the most intense operating positron beam anywhere in the world.
  The PULSTAR reactor is a public facility and gives frequent tours with advance notice and clearance.
  In November 2010, the PULSTAR reactor was linked to the nuclear engineering department of Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST).
caption: The "observation room" of NC State's Pulstar Nuclear Reactor.
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