Nuclear Energy Goes Rural: The Elk River Reactor in Minnesota (1963)

This film presents the background, planning, and construction of the Elk River Reactor for Minnesota's Rural Cooperative Power Association. After the rural background and setting are established, the planning of the reactor is shown. Animation is used to explain the principle of the boiling water reactor with conventional superheated steam. A comparison is made with the hot air heating system used in the home, and the reactor's control rods are compared with a thermostat. The reactor control room is shown. A "Scram" is explained. Fuel operations are also explained, as well as the air monitoring system.
Film produced by the US Atomic Energy Commission in 1963. Original 16mm film lent courtesy of the US National Archives. Digitization by whatisnuclear.com made possible thanks to Last Energy.
whatisnuclear.com/news/2024-0...
catalog.archives.gov/id/88195

[@Nill757]

Thanks for posting these histories Dr Touran.

[@blackbird_actual]

Thanks again for taking the time to digitize and upload these old films!

[@whatisnuclear]

My pleasure! It's a fun hobby.

[@johnkern7075]

Cool flick! Looks like a nice set up. Forgot to say THANK YOU! for posting this films.

[@whatisnuclear]

Glad you liked them! My pleasure.

[@Nill757]

Closed 1968 after four years operation. The ANS history details numerous problems w the project, where the primary problem was RPV reactor water leaks (vessel required major rework before initial operation).
The 1960s then did have its own problem builds, along w great successes like Point Beach, still running.

[@jothamread]

Great video

[@mdeucemeyer]

Great video!

[@EricMeyer9]

Coal fired superheater ?! 🤔 7:54

[@whatisnuclear]

Yeah! They added those to a few reactors back in these days to try to get the steam conditions up to par with off-the-shelf (fossil) turbines. I don't have a full list on hand but this is related: www.ans.org/news/article-1309/the-hook-ons/