Eastmoreland's Nuclear Reactor
Interestingly, Eastmoreland is probably the only Portland neighborhood with an
operating nuclear reactor.
It's
located on the campus of Reed College. There are 103 power reactors in the
United States used to make electricity. There are 27 research reactors. Reed
is the only liberal arts college in the world with a nuclear reactor.
 Reactor enthusiasts will
be pleased to know that it is a TRIGA Mark I water-cooled, "swimming pool"
reactor at the bottom of a 25-foot-deep tank. It uses 58 zirconium
hydride/uranium hydride fuel elements in a circular grid array. The uranium
fuel is enriched to 20 percent in uranium-235. The reactor is surrounded by a
graphite ring which minimizes neutron leakage by reflecting neutrons back into
the core
 The reactor produces 250
kilowatts of heat (about 10 times as much as a home heating furnace). The Reed
reactor does not produce any electricity. A meltdown or other serious event is
not likely since the reactor doesn't produce enough heat to melt down. Even if
all the cooling water were lost, the reactor can be adequately cooled by the air
around it.
Visit the
reactor web site or review the
FAQ about the reactor.
Source: Reed College
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