K25

The History The K-25 plant was located on the southwestern end of the Oak Ridge reservation It used the gaseous diffusion method to separate uranium-235 from uranium-238 They started building it in June 1943 and completed it in early 1945

The History The total cost was $500 million The K-25 plant employed 12,000 workers The building was in a U shape The building was in a U shape It measured half a mile It measured half a mile by 1,000 feet Was larger than the Was larger than thepentagon

The History Construction began before completion of the design for the process Construction began before completion of the design for the process So many people were needed for construction So many people were needed for construction that the town of Oak Ridge, originally designed for 13,000 people, grew to 50,000 by the summer of 1944.

Gaseous diffusion Based on the principle that molecules of a lighter isotope would pass through a porous barrier more readily than molecules of a heavier one Based on the principle that molecules of a lighter isotope would pass through a porous barrier more readily than molecules of a heavier one Produced minute amounts of final product Produced minute amounts of final product Gaseous diffusion required a massive facility to house the hundreds of cascades Gaseous diffusion required a massive facility to house the hundreds of cascades

Gaseous diffusion Consumed enormous amounts of electric power. Consumed enormous amounts of electric power. One of three isotope One of three isotope separation processes that provided uranium-235 for the Hiroshima bomb The other two were The other two were electromagnetic separation and liquid thermal diffusion

Destructing K25 Thousands of truckloads of hazardous garbage have already been hauled from the site Thousands of truckloads of hazardous garbage have already been hauled from the site The latest cost estimate is $810 million, that’s more than it took to build it The latest cost estimate is $810 million, that’s more than it took to build it 820 people are working on the project 820 people are working on the project

Destructing K25 K-25 workers have to wear lots of protective gear K-25 workers have to wear lots of protective gear Respirators are required in many cases Respirators are required in many cases Popular Science named the K-25 demolition worker as one of the 10 worst jobs in science Popular Science named the K-25 demolition worker as one of the 10 worst jobs in science They have had to stabilize parts of the building in order to make deconstruction safe They have had to stabilize parts of the building in order to make deconstruction safe

Destructing K25 For nuclear safety reasons, the deposits of fissionable uranium must be removed before K-25 can be torn down and sent to the dump. For nuclear safety reasons, the deposits of fissionable uranium must be removed before K-25 can be torn down and sent to the dump. Locating those deposits has been a challenge, requiring radiation detectors and flexible cameras known as boroscopes. Locating those deposits has been a challenge, requiring radiation detectors and flexible cameras known as boroscopes.

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