Neely Nuclear Research Center

Neely Nuclear Research Center
Neely Nuclear Research Center
Former names	Neely Research Reactor ; Georgia Tech Research Reactor
General information
Location	Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Address	900 Atlantic Drive NW
Coordinates	33°46′47″N 84°23′53″W / 33.779609°N 84.39815°W
Current tenants	Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Program; Georgia Tech Research Institute
Completed	1963
Demolished	2000
Owner	Georgia Institute of Technology
Technical details
Floor count	1

The Frank H. Neely Nuclear Research Center, also known as the Neely Research Reactor and the Georgia Tech Research Reactor was a nuclear engineering research center on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus, which housed a 5 megawatt heavy water moderated and cooled research reactor from 1961 until 1995.^[1] It was decommissioned in November 1999.^[2] The building that housed the reactor was demolished to make way for the Marcus Nanotechnology Research Center.

The center is named for Frank H. Neely, a Georgia Tech graduate and businessman who organized the first Georgia Nuclear Advisory Commission, an essential step in the creation of the reactor and associated facilities.^[3]

History

The center and associated reactor was built after campus president Blake R. Van Leer appointed a Nuclear Science Committee, which included Georgia Tech Research Institute director James E. Boyd.^[4]^[5]

The committee recommended the creation of a Radioisotopes Laboratory Facility and a large research reactor. The laboratory was built and dedicated on January 7, 1959, and could receive, store, and process radioactive materials.^[4] The research reactor would be completed in 1963.

The reactor was shut down in 1988 due to safety concerns,^[6] and was defueled due to safety concerns related to the nearby 1996 Summer Olympics events.^[4]

The reactor building was torn down after the decommissioning, with the remainder removed as of 2015.

References

^ "History of the Georgia Tech Research Reactor" (PDF). Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
^ "Research Reactor Decommissioning" (PDF). CH2M Hill. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-03-11. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
^ "Frank H. Neely Papers". Georgia Tech Library. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c "James E. Boyd" (PDF). Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
^ "History Makers". Georgia Tech Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
^ "Georgia Tech Closes Its Reactor, Citing Continued Safety Concerns". The New York Times. 1988-02-16. Retrieved 2010-03-29.

External links

Georgia Tech Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Program
Neely Nuclear Research Center on the Georgia Tech Campus Map

[hertel-1] "History of the Georgia Tech Research Reactor" (PDF). Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2017-11-21.

[2] "Research Reactor Decommissioning" (PDF). CH2M Hill. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-03-11. Retrieved 2017-11-21.

[3] "Frank H. Neely Papers". Georgia Tech Library. Retrieved 2010-03-29.

[boyd-4] "James E. Boyd" (PDF). Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2010-03-25.

[makers-5] "History Makers". Georgia Tech Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2010-03-25.

[6] "Georgia Tech Closes Its Reactor, Citing Continued Safety Concerns". The New York Times. 1988-02-16. Retrieved 2010-03-29.

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