Stack of Chicago - 1: the world's first nuclear reactor

Do you think that what is depicted in the photo? Yes, of course, the title is given and the answer, but still recognize in this pile of "logs" nuclear reactor can only be a person familiar with the history of nuclear power, and familiar. "Woodpile" was created in 1942 to test the feasibility of controlled nuclear chain reaction.

there was "a pile" of graphite blocks, which were neatly stacked, in each second layer blocks were hollow, and inside the stationing of nuclear fuel - uranium oxide and pressed metal ingots.



Since such a reactor was used to test the feasibility of a controlled reaction, and were a kind of "controls" - several types of rods of cadmium and boron steel. There were three types of rods. The first type - controlled using the remote, it was the control rods. The second type - safety rods. Rather, it was the only rod that is suspended above the reactor on the rope. If an emergency situation occurs, cut the rope planned, and had fallen into the reactor core of drowned reaction. Oh, and another was a rod that was taken out by hand in order to create conditions for controlled nuclear reaction (ie, result in a critical state of the reactor itself).

All this is not comparable to modern reactors - was not included in any cooling system (ie it was planned reactor watered with plain water in the event of extreme heat) or system to protect people from radiation.

Reactor spent tens of minutes (28 to be exact), and during that time, scientists have real proof of the possibility of a nuclear reaction (Manager) - the experiment was completely successful.

Via dvice + wikipedia

Source: habrahabr.ru/post/206444/