United States · Lemont, IL · 41.702, -87.912

CP-3 Chicago Pile 3

CP-3 Chicago Pile 3, a research reactor (heavy water) in Lemont, IL, United States, with 300 kW of thermal power, operated by Argonne National Laboratory. Decommissioned, first critical in 1944.

It was one of the 340 research reactors the United States has had; 48 remain in operation today. It went critical 2 years after the first research reactor in the United States, CP-1, Chicago Pile 1 (1942). 10 heavy-water research reactors remain in operation today across 7 countries. Its declared uses include research, development and experiments.

Country

United States

City

Lemont, IL

Type

Heavy water

Thermal power

300 kW

Operator

Argonne National Laboratory

Status

Decommissioned

First criticality

1944

Purpose

Research, development, and experiments

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