goingcritical:b-reactorUnited States · Research reactor

B Reactor (Hanford)

Developer: DuPont (Manhattan Project)

Site: Hanford Site, Washington

Status: Critical since September 26, 1944 critical

Summary:

First industrial-scale nuclear reactor; produced plutonium for the Trinity test and the Nagasaki bomb

Details

DesignWater-cooled graphite-moderated plutonium production reactor
Capacity250 MW (thermal where reported)

Milestone history

  1. Announced —
  2. Construction start —
  3. Fuel load —
  4. First criticality September 26, 1944

References

  1. DOE, B Reactor history
  2. National Park Service, Manhattan Project NHP, B Reactor