PUR-1 Facilities Updates
PUR-1
PUR-1 tour group
The Purdue University Reactor – (PUR-1) was returned to fully operational status after a multi-year shut down for maintenance and refurbishment of several parts. The reactor has entered into stable operation and was successfully used in the senior level undergraduate detector laboratory, NUCL 305 during the Fall of 2015, also used for NUCL 504. The facility returned to full staffing levels with Dr. Robert Bean (Laboratory Director), Clive Townsend (Reactor Supervisor) and Dave Storz (Reactor Electronics Technician) all being employed full time.
Upcoming work for the facility includes completing the licensing process for the power uprate to 10 kW (currently PUR-1 is rated at 1kw) and initiation of a major project to upgrade all the instrumentation and controls of the facility to a digital system. This project is supported by the Department of Energy and is expected to be completed by Fall of 2016.
In additional to classroom utilization, the PUR-1 facility saw over 1500 visitors over the course of the year. Individuals visiting the reactor ranged from Indiana High School students, prospective undergraduates, Purdue undergraduates, graduate students, visiting speakers, and members of the public.