The Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project films

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By Dr. Nick Touran, Ph.D., P.E., 2025-05-02, Reading time: 6 minutes

The Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant (CRBRP) Project was a massive US-government nuclear reactor development project that aimed to build a prototype fast-neutron breeder reactor. The project ran from around 1969 to 1983 when it was defunded. A large amount of equipment was fabricated and delivered, though the plant was never built.

Aalo Atomics approached me looking to sponsor some sodium-related films. I had just recently found a collection of 27 CRBRP-related films in the archive index, and Aalo agreed to sponsor a batch of 12. They turned out great, so Aalo sponsored 7 more (coming soon!). Huge thanks to Matt, Yasir, and the rest of the team at Aalo for making these happen.

These are all on 3/4” U-matic video cassette format, so the resolution is a lot less than the 16mm films we’ve scanned in the past.

CRBRP films

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Six Foot Vessel Test (Seismic) CRBRP

1978-09-22

Technical recording of shake testing of a 6-foot vessel. 326-CRB-17

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Sodium Safety: Action and Reaction

1979

A liquid metal sodium safety film made as part of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Program. This is for training operators of sodium-cooled nuclear...

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Sodium Spill on Protective Suit

1979

This shows liquid metal sodium spraying onto a protective suit. It also shows a guy putting on one of these clunky suits and trying to do stuff lik...

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24" Pipe Test from CRBRP

1979-02-27

Technical recording of shake testing of a large sodium pipe. 326-CRB-15 Looking for resonances.

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Inert Gas: Coping with Oxygen Deficient Environments in 400 Area

1979?

Safety training video about inert gas environments, e.g. Argon and Nitrogen from the FFTF areas. Originally part of the CRBRP.

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The Next Step: Progress Report: The Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant Project (1980)

1980-05-01

This is a summary of the (now cancelled) Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant Project.

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Under Sodium Viewing

1981

Since liquid metal sodium is opaque and reactive, it can be hard to find equipment or loose parts under it. So ultrasonic under-sodium viewing tech...

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Endless Energy with Dr. Edward Teller

1981-09-09

The story of nuclear power and breeder reactors as told by Dr. Edward Teller. He also speaks of fusion, fusion-fission hybrids, molten salt reacto...

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CRBRP: Breeder Equipment Delivered

1981?

Short newscast of a water tank being delivered for Clinch River

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CRBRP: Fuel Handling

1981?

Fuel handling equipment for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project.

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Clinch River Breeder Story Update

1982

This was part of the Employee Communications from Carolina Power and Light covering the Clinch River Breeder Reactor.

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Clinch River Breeder Reactor Closure Head Testing

1982-04-16

This is footage showing testing of the rotating plug reactor head with rotating plug from the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant (CRBRP) project. T...

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Atomic Safety and Licensing Board hearings on CRBRP (1982)

1982-09-01

This is a ASLB meeting discussing the (now cancelled) Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant Project.

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Site Activities at CRBRP

1982-09-22

Clearing the site at CRBRP

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Large Scale Sodium Fire Suppression Test, 1983

1983-05-11

This is footage from the Large-Scale Sodium Fire Suppression Test performed on May 11, 1983 at the Rockwell International Sodium Fire Test Facility...

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Large Scale Fire Suppression Test #1

1983-05-11

Additional footage of the Large-Scale Sodium test, related to NAID 7459148

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CRBRP: Open House at the Construction Site

1983-09-10

Various Clinch River Breeder project leaders giving talks at the bottom of the excavation where they wanted to do construction.

See Also

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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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