Purdue flips switch on nation's first all digital nuclear reactor

Dean Mung Chiang speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Dean Mung Chiang speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Seungjin Kim, head of Nuclear Engineering, speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind, speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., left, shakes hands with Annie Caputo, commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Annie Caputo, commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Suzanne Jaworowki, senior advisor Office of Nuclear Engineering, U.S. Department of Energy, speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Purdue University president Mitch Daniels speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Purdue University president Mitch Daniels speaks during a dedication ceremony for Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

From left, Purdue president Mitch Daniels, Annie Caputo, commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Suzanne Jaworowski, senior advisor, Office of Nuclear Energy and Dean Mung Chiang flip the switch on the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

From left, Annie Caputo, commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Purdue president Mitch Daniels, Suzanne Jaworowski, senior advisor, Office of Nuclear Energy and Dean Mung Chiang flip the switch on the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

A piece of nuclear history stands in a hallway during a tour of the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., second right, asks a question during a tour of the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Annie Caputo, commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, answers a question from Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind, during a tour of the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Annie Caputo, commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, left, and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind. look into Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind, center, listens to Arden Bement, former head of the Nuclear Engineering school during a tour of the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind. holds a piece of the nuclear reactor fuel during a tour of the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind. examines a piece of the nuclear reactor fuel during a tour of the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Screens project a picture of the Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1) core, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Purdue University’s Reactor Number 1 (PUR-1), Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 at Purdue University's Electrical Engineering Building in West Lafayette. PUR-1 is the first all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.