Armour Research Reactor

A 1958 film about the first privately owned reactor dedicated to industrial research

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By Dr. Nick Touran, Ph.D., P.E., 2025-03-06, Reading time: 9 minutes

The Armour Research Reactor was a small homogeneous-type nuclear reactor with uranyl sulfate fuel dissolved in water. It was installed at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. This film, recorded in February 1958 and digitized in 2025, shows the core construction, reactor controls, shield, and various applications of the reactor.

Catalog description: This film shows the design, fabrication, and operation of the first private nuclear energy reactor designed specifically for industrial research — the 50,000- watt solution type reactor built by Atomics International for the Armour Research Foundation, Chicago.

This is film 88092 in our catalog.

A very special thanks to Veriten for sponsoring the digitization of this film. They actually did a whole Gener8 podcast episode where you can along with the hosts and Nick.

The Armour Research Reactor (ARR)’s license application was submitted on Jan 7, 1955. The construction permit was issued on March 28, 1955, and the license was issued on December 5, 1958 (ref). It went critical on June 24, 1956, and operated until 1958 at 10 kW before uprating. It was shut down in 1967 and the license was terminated on April 28, 1972. The reactor was a L-54 model from Atomics International.

Stills from the film

Armour Research Reactor Logo Armour Research Reactor Logo
Model of whole Armour reactor facility Model of whole Armour reactor facility
Model of core and shield Model of core and shield
Assembling 10 sections of cooling coils Assembling 10 sections of cooling coils
They have a total length of 90 ft. They have a total length of 90 ft.
Distilled water circulates through coils Distilled water circulates through coils
Seam welding the core vessel hemispheres Seam welding the core vessel hemispheres
Installing the graphite reflector blocks around the (inverted) core/fuel overflow assembly Installing the graphite reflector blocks around the (inverted) core/fuel overflow assembly
The reflector blocks were hand-cut to ensure a close fit The reflector blocks were hand-cut to ensure a close fit
A tube through the center to permit specimen exposure A tube through the center to permit specimen exposure
Stacking reflector blocks 5 feet around the aluminum outer envelope which can be removed and reinstalled for repair Stacking reflector blocks 5 feet around the aluminum outer envelope which can be removed and reinstalled for repair
Biological shielding was provided by 5' wall of dense iron ore concrete. A Single bucket weighs 6000 lbs Biological shielding was provided by 5' wall of dense iron ore concrete. A Single bucket weighs 6000 lbs
Instrumentation system Instrumentation system
Control console Control console
Model of the reactor and control rods with lights Model of the reactor and control rods with lights
4 vertical B4C control rods encased in stainless steel for regulation and shut down 4 vertical B4C control rods encased in stainless steel for regulation and shut down
Pressing the SCRAM button cuts power to electromagnetic rod couplings to drop the rods Pressing the SCRAM button cuts power to electromagnetic rod couplings to drop the rods
The reactor fuel is uranyl sulfate dissolved in distilled water, 88% enriched U-235 The reactor fuel is uranyl sulfate dissolved in distilled water, 88% enriched U-235
Negative fuel and gas reactivity feedbacks depicted graphically as a backup safety feature Negative fuel and gas reactivity feedbacks depicted graphically as a backup safety feature
Man riding on the 40,000 lb horizontal thermal column door Man riding on the 40,000 lb horizontal thermal column door
Special gas tight door seal the reactor room Special gas tight door seal the reactor room
Man at Armour control console operating the reactor Man at Armour control console operating the reactor
Instruments on the control console Instruments on the control console
Personnel using one of the 18 tubes that go into the core Personnel using one of the 18 tubes that go into the core
Woman placing an irradiated sample in a detector shield chamber Woman placing an irradiated sample in a detector shield chamber
Radioactive C-14 is being created from irradiated CO2 for tracer research Radioactive C-14 is being created from irradiated CO2 for tracer research
Activation analysis detecting tiny impurities Activation analysis detecting tiny impurities
Effects of radiation on transistors and semiconductors being studies Effects of radiation on transistors and semiconductors being studies
Extensive research on how radioactive phosphorous is absorbed into tomatoes to understand Extensive research on how radioactive phosphorous is absorbed into tomatoes to understand
Measuring the tomatoes Measuring the tomatoes
Diagnostic test of the thyroid. She drank tracer amount of radioactive iodine. The detector is a scintillator. Diagnostic test of the thyroid. She drank tracer amount of radioactive iodine. The detector is a scintillator.
Additional testing in hot cell with manipulators Additional testing in hot cell with manipulators

See Also

If you’re interested in helping to get some of these scanned, check out our digitization GoFundMe and/or contact us!

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About Dr. Nick Touran, Ph.D., P.E.

Nick Touran is a nuclear engineer with expertise in advanced nuclear reactor design, reactor development, and the history of nuclear power. After getting a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, he spent 15 years at TerraPower in Seattle working on core design, business development, software development, and configuration management. He is now a consultant involved in advising and assisting numerous reactor development and deployment efforts. He is also a licensed professional engineer in Nuclear Engineering.

Nick has been active in public education around nuclear since 2006 as the founder of whatisnuclear.com. He has spoken at numerous institutions, schools, and public events, and was once featured on NPR’s Science Friday. Recently, he has coordinated the digitization of over 45 historical nuclear films.

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