We have looked far and wide at the world of nuclear energy. Over the past weeks, we have looked at the history and science behind nuclear energy, the benefits and the disadvantages of using nuclear power for energy, and even at current events going on in the nuclear world. However, now, in our final post, we will bring our focus back home and look at a nuclear reactor that is close to all of our own hearts, the Penn State nuclear reactor, the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor. To start learn about this hub of nuclear activity on our own campus, we will first look at the history of the reactor.
The Breazeale Nuclear Reactor website says that the whole idea of getting a nuclear reactor came from Erin A. Walker, the Dean of Engineering and Architecture in the 1950s. This was when there were two President Eisenhowers in office; President of the United States of America, Dwight D. Eisenhower and President of Pennsylvania State University, Milton Eisenhower. Dwight Eisenhower had started the Atoms for Peace program to promote nuclear power all across the country. This led Milton Eisenhower, Dwight's brother, and Dean Walker to set plans into motion for Penn State to build a nuclear reactor, the university's board of trustees voted to allow the reactor to be built in 1953, and construction was started the following year. The building was then dedicated on February 22, 1955. However, this was just the beginning of the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor's life.
Even though the nuclear reactors life began in February, it did not go into operation until July. It may have taken longer for the reactor to begin to be used if President Dwight D. Eisenhower had not stepped in and helped the Penn State Nuclear Reactor to licensed. The reactor was give the license number of R-2, because the R-1 license was reserved for North Carolina State College (which wasn't licensed until October). For this reason, Penn State was the first nuclear reactor to be licensed at a college campus. Along with the beginning of operations at the reactor came the first nuclear energy professor at Penn State, and the operator of the reactor, William M. Breazeale (the reactor was named in his honor in 1971). In the years since, the Breazeale Nuclear reactor has continued to evolve and modernize with increasing technologies.
Now that we've gone through the history of the Breazeale Nuclear reactor, its time to look at some fun facts for the reactor. According to the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor website, the reactor is the longest running research reactor in the country. Also, towards the end of the 1950s, about one third of nuclear reactor operators received their training at Penn State. Research at the reactor was even done, which created new colors of poinsettias and African violets, through the use of radiation. However, the Breazeale Nuclear reactor does not create any electricity, because it is only used for research. The nuclear reactor even helped with the restoration of the Hewer Statue! I don't know what this statue is, but the website for the reactor says that it used to be in the lobby of Eisenhower Auditorium. I have never looked for this statue, so I don't know is its still there, but whenever I googled "Hewer Statue," it said it was in Cairo, Illinois. Upon farther research, Genealogy Trails told me that the statue was created by George Barnard, but I have no idea why it was at Penn State. However, Barnard has a statue of Lincoln that was given to Penn State as well. My apologies for losing track of this post to hunt for Hewer, but I thought it was very interesting (If you know anything more about this statue, please share your knowledge in the comments). Overall, the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor has many fun facts associated with it, and truly a very fun place.
Hewer Statue in Cairo, IL
To wrap up this post, I will share with you my experience of visiting the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor. I took a field trip to see the reactor for my chemistry class during my junior year of high school. When we arrived at the nuclear reactor, we went to a class room and were taught the very same history that I just told you about, if not even more. The tour guides also showed us their radiation detecting badges, that measured the amount of radiation that they were subjected to throughout their time working. They were of course not overly radiated, but it was still cool to see the badges. We were then shown the nuclear reactor, which was at the bottom of a giant pool. However, the coolest thing about the nuclear reactor was that it glowed a light blue color, which was really neat to see. The blue glow of the nuclear reactor is so interesting, that it was the picture on the post cards they gave us (yes, even nuclear reactors have post cards). This tour was really neat, and maybe one of the best in all of my high school career. If you are totally jealous and want to go on a tour yourself, you can go here, to see the tours they have to offer.
The Breazeale Nuclear Reactor is an amazing and real life example of the power of nuclear energy. Over the past few weeks, we have been able to learn a lot about nuclear power together, but it is sadly time for this blog to come to an end. Hopefully, you can use the knowledge that you have gained from the blog to go on into your future, and be more informed about the never slowing innovation, as well as debate, in the nuclear power world.
