The SL-1 Reactor Incident

Dec 18, 2024

Discover the tragic tale of the SL-1 reactor, the U.S.'s only fatal nuclear disaster. This podcast unveils its Cold War origins, highlighting design flaws and safety issues. Explore the chaotic moments of the catastrophic steam explosion and the heroic yet perilous emergency responses. Learn about the challenging decontamination efforts that followed, revealing the profound risks faced by workers. Listener memories add a personal touch, reflecting on the broader implications of nuclear safety and how historical lessons resonate today.

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ANECDOTE

SL-1 Reactor Explosion

Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey discuss the SL-1 reactor explosion, America's first fatal nuclear reactor disaster.
The discussion stemmed from a listener's interest in a deep dive into this specific incident.

INSIGHT

SL-1 Reactor's Purpose

The SL-1 reactor, built in a remote Idaho location, was intended for practical uses like powering radar stations.
Its development was part of the Cold War's Defense Early Warning (DEW) Line project in the Arctic.

ANECDOTE

DEW Line and SL-1

The DEW Line's radar stations, initially powered by diesel, aimed to detect Soviet attacks over the Arctic.
The SL-1 was designed to replace these generators, operating for three years without refueling.

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The Stationary Low-Power Plant Number 1 was a small boiling-water reactor built at the National Reactor Testing Station, west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. On January 3, 1961, during a restart of the reactor, a catastrophic tragedy unfolded when the reactor went supercritical.

Research:

Divison of Technical Information Extension, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. “SL-1 The Accident, Phases I and II.” https://www.osti.gov/sciencecinema/biblio/1129428
Francisco, A.D. and E. T. Tomlinson. “Analysis of the SL-1 Accident Using RELAP5-3D.” Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. 2007 International RELAP5 User’s Seminar. November 7 -9, 2007. https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/39/038/39038759.pdf?r=1
Idaho National Laboratory. “SL-1, Idaho: Just the Facts.” https://factsheets.inl.gov/FactSheets/Just%20the%20Facts_SL-1.pdf
O’Connor, Bryan. “Supercritical: SL-1 Nuclear Reactor Explosion.” NASA. September 2007. https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/safety-messages/safetymessage-2007-09-01-sl1nuclearreactorexplosion-vits.pdf
McKeown, William. “Idaho Falls: The Untold Story of America’s First Nuclear Accident.” ECW Press. 2003.
Perry, E.F. “Stationary Low Power Reactor No. 1 (SL-1) Accident Site Decontamination & Dismantlement Project.” Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies. 10/27/1995. https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/27/029/27029475.pdf?r=1
SL-1 Accident Briefing Report - 1961 Nuclear Reactor Meltdown Educational Documentary. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. https://www.osti.gov/sciencecinema/biblio/1122857
Sommers, Bryan W. “Idaho Falls: The First Nuclear Meltdown in America’s History.” 4/11/2024. https://www.argonelectronics.com/blog/idaho-falls-first-nuclear-meltdown-in-americas-history
Stacy, Susan M. “Proving the Principle.” Idaho Operations Office of the Department of Energy Idaho Falls, Idaho. 2000.
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. “IDO Report on the Nuclear Incident at the SL-1 Reactor, January 3, 1961, National Reactor Testing Station.” U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Idaho Operations Office.
US Atomic Energy Commission. “REPORT ON THE SL-1 INCIDENT, JANUARY 3, 1961” https://archive.org/details/SL1PressRelease1961
Wander, Steve, executive editor. “Supercritical.” System Failure Case Studies. Vol. 1, Issue 4. https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/safety-messages/safetymessage-2007-09-01-sl1nuclearreactorexplosion.pdf

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