United States · Middletown, CT · 41.562, -72.651 (approximate location)

CANEL Critical Assembly

CANEL Critical Assembly, a research reactor (critical assembly) in Middletown, CT, United States, with 1 W of thermal power, operated by Connecticut Aircraft Nuclear Engine Laboratory. Decommissioned, first critical in 1957.

It was one of the 340 research reactors the United States has had; 48 remain in operation today. It went critical 15 years after the first research reactor in the United States, CP-1, Chicago Pile 1 (1942). 44 critical assemblies remain in operation today across 12 countries. Its declared uses include materials testing.

Country

United States

City

Middletown, CT

Type

Critical assembly

Thermal power

1 W

Operator

Connecticut Aircraft Nuclear Engine Laboratory

Status

Decommissioned

First criticality

1957

Purpose

Materials testing

See also: every research reactor in United States · How research reactors work