The Shippingport reactor was the first full-scale nuclear power plant in the United States.

The Shippingport reactor, located near the present-day Beaver Valley Nuclear Generating Station on the Ohio River in Beaver County, Pennsylvania about 25 miles from Pittsburgh. The reactor first went critical on December 2, 1957, and was in operation until October, 1982. Image File history File links Shippingport_Reactor. ... Image File history File links Shippingport_Reactor. ... Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station is a nuclear power plant covering 500 acres (2 km²) near Shippingport, Pennsylvania, 34 miles (54 km) west by north of Pittsburgh. ... The Ohio River is the largest tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. ... Beaver County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... Nickname: Steel City, Iron City, City of Champions, City of Bridges, City of Colleges Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Allegheny County Founded 1758 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D) Area    - City 151. ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The reactor was a pressurized water reactor capable of an output of 60 MWe. The reactor had originally been designed for a large aircraft carrier, and was adapted to commercial use. Pressurized water reactors (PWRs) are generation II nuclear power reactors that use water under high pressure as coolant and neutron moderator. ...

In 1977, it was converted to a Pressurized Light-Water Breeder Reactor (PLWBR). A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that breeds fuel. ...

Construction

In 1953, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his Atoms for Peace speech to the United Nations. Commercial power generation was cornerstone of his plan. The US Navy was tasked to work with the commercial power industry. A proposal by Duquesne Light Company was accepted and the plans for the Shippingport Atomic Power Station started. 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Dwight David Eisenhower (also known as Ike) (born David Dwight Eisenhower on October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American soldier and politician. ... Atoms for Peace was the title of a speech delivered by Dwight D. Eisenhower to the UN General Assembly in New York City on December 8, 1953. ... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ...

Ground was broken on Labor Day, 1954-09-06. President Eisenhower remotely initiated the first scoop of dirt at the ceremony^[1]. The reactor first went critical at 4:30 AM on 1957-12-02^[2]. On 1957-12-18, the first power was generated and full power achieved on 1957-12-23^[2], although the station remained in test mode. Eisenhower opened the Shippingport atomic power station on May 26, 1958. The plant was built in 32 months at a cost of $72.5 million ^[3]. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the Gregorian Calendar, December 18 is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years), at which point there will be 13 days remaining to the end of the year. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (358th in leap years). ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Decommissioning

On October 1st, 1982, the reactor ceased operations after 25 years^[4]. In September of 1985 dismantlement of the facility began^[5]. In December, 1988, the 956-ton (870-T) reactor pressure vessel/neutron shield tank assembly was lifted out of the containment building and loaded onto land transportation equipment in preparation for removal from the site and shipment to a burial facility in Washington State^[6]. The site has been cleaned up and released for unrestricted use. October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The $98 million (1985 estimate) cleanup of Shippingport has been used as an example of a successful reactor decommissioning by proponents of nuclear power. However, critics point out that Shippingport was both smaller and a different type than most commercial nuclear power stations^[5].

References

1. ^ Historic Achievement Recognized: Shippingport Atomic Power Station, A National Engineering Historical Landmark (PDF) pp. 4. Retrieved on 2006-06-24.
2. ^ ^{a b} ibid., pp. 9
3. ^ NRC:History. Retrieved on 2006-06-24.
4. ^ Shippingport. Retrieved on 2006-06-24.
5. ^ ^{a b} Nuclear Energy Decommisioning. Retrieved on 2006-06-24.
6. ^ Duerr, David (March 1990). "Lift of Shippingport Reactor Pressure Vessel". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 116 (1): 188-197.

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ...

External links

• Brief history of site Note: The picture above is the original site. This link shows the site after 1974 when Beaver Valley Units 1 and 2 were built adjacent the Shippingport Atomic Plant
• Shippingport and Eisenhower