Pool-type reactor

A swimming pool reactor (also swimming pool reactor or water well reactor ) is a research reactor, the reactor core itself deep in a several meters, is upwardly open water basin. Thus interventions and experiments for research and education are easily possible. Also, samples, eg, for the production of radionuclides for medical use, to be irradiated.

The water acts as a moderator and cooling. The thick layer of water above the reactor core is enough with the reactor as a shield against radiation.

In Germany, several swimming pool reactors are operated. The most famous was the Munich research reactor FRM I, named because of the external form of his building " Atomic Egg ". He was finally shut down on 28 July 2000 at 10:30 clock, so that his successor FRM II to become operational. This is with a rated output of 20 MW, the largest research reactor in Germany.

Atomic Egg (FRM I) and FRM II in the background