F-1 (nuclear reactor)

The F-1 (from "First Physical Reactor") is a research reactor operated by the Kurchatov Institute in Moscow, Russia. When started on December 25, 1946, it became the first nuclear reactor in Europe to achieve a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.[1] It was still in operation in the beginning of the 2010s, with a power level of 24 kW, making it, at that time, the world's oldest operating reactor. The fuel in F-1 is metallic uranium with the natural content of the 235 U isotope (0.72%), graphite as a moderator, cadmium rods to control the neutron flux. Structurally, it is a spherical structure with a diameter of about 6 meters, made of loose graphite bricks. The graphite stack has holes in which fuel and control rods are placed, as well as research and control equipment. The weight of graphite is 400 tons, uranium is 50 tons.

F-1
Control panel of the reactor
Official name	Physics-1
Country	Soviet Union, now Russian Federation
Location	Moscow
Coordinates	55°47′46″N 37°28′43″E
Status	Permanent Shutdown
Construction began	15 November 1946
Commission date	26 December 1946
Owner(s)	Russian Research Centre, Kurchatov Institute
Operator(s)	Russian Research Centre, Kurchatov Institute
Nuclear power station
Reactor type	Graphite Pile
Reactor supplier	Russia
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	46411Kg of natural uranium metal
Tertiary fuel	41Kg of 2% enriched uranium
Power generation
Capacity factor	24 kWt

Thermal power of the reactor is from 100 W to 1 MW. Air cooling, if necessary, forced air cooling was provided by fans. Long-term operation at high power was not possible, but the large mass of the core allowed a short-term increase in power to peak values.[2] In November 2016 it was in permanent shutdown state.[3]