Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant Collection
The records describe the design, construction, operation, and decommission of one of the earliest power generating nuclear reactors in the United States.
Biographical / Historical Note
In 1955, an association of twenty regional power and industrial companies led by the Detroit Edison Company created a non-profit research-and-development company, the Atomic Power Development Association (APDA), to develop the initial proposal for a fast-breeder...
MoreIn 1955, an association of twenty regional power and industrial companies led by the Detroit Edison Company created a non-profit research-and-development company, the Atomic Power Development Association (APDA), to develop the initial proposal for a fast-breeder nuclear reactor in Michigan. Later in 1955, the APDA chartered the Power Reactor Development Company (PRDC) to design, construct, and operate the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit I after federal approval of the APDA's proposal. Plant staffing included executives, managers, and technicians drawn from member companies with the bulk of employees transferred from Detroit Edison operations. Fermi I, built on the southwest shore of Lake Erie outside Detroit, Michigan, was one of the largest fast-breeder reactors in the world when construction was completed in 1960. The original design of the Fermi reactor allowed for power generating capabilities up to 430 megawatts although the plant never operated above 200 megawatts. As one of the earliest nuclear powered generating facilities in United States, the Fermi I plant construction and design process laid the ground work for subsequent nuclear power technology development through the 1970s. Fermi I was decommissioned in 1975.
LessScope and Content Note
The Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant records consists of two series. The Operations and Procedures series, 1956-1974 (2.5 cubic ft.), contains power plant and core design schematics, operating reports, manuals, and procedures binders. The procedures...
MoreThe Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant records consists of two series. The Operations and Procedures series, 1956-1974 (2.5 cubic ft.), contains power plant and core design schematics, operating reports, manuals, and procedures binders. The procedures manuals cover pre-operational processes, plant facilities, and emergency shut down steps. The Technical Reports series, 1952-1975 (3.5 cubic ft.), contains summary reports, test data, fuel pin development records, and supplier information. Of special note are analysis test reports and summaries that address the investigation and impact of the partial core meltdown that occurred at the Fermi I reactor in October, 1966. The original collection included several reactor fuel core sub-assemblies containing depleted, non-radioactive, uranium. The fuel sub-assemblies were deaccessioned in 2001 and donated to the Argonne National Laboratory-West, in Scoville Idaho, a U. S. government nuclear fuel training facility.
LessCollection Details
Object ID: 75.2.7.0
Creator: Detroit Edison Company
Inclusive Dates: 1952-1975
Size: 7 cubic ft. (7 boxes)
Language: English
Collection Access & Use
Item Location: Not Currently On Exhibit
Access Restrictions: The records are open for research.
Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Power Reactor Development Company
Related Objects
Digitized Artifacts From This Collection
In many cases, not all artifacts have been digitized.
Contact us for more information about this collection.
Program, "Inaugural Ceremonies of the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant," August 8, 1956
Artifact
Program (Document)
Creators
Object ID
75.2.7.2
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Power Reactor Development Company
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Program, "Inaugural Ceremonies of the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant," August 8, 1956
What is The Henry Ford?
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Report, "Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant Unit 1," circa 1971
Artifact
Booklet
Date Made
1971
Keywords
Object ID
75.2.7.3
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Power Reactor Development Company
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Report, "Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant Unit 1," circa 1971
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Brochure, "Dr. Enrico Fermi, 1901-1954," circa 1960
Artifact
Brochure
Date Made
circa 1960
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
75.2.7.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Power Reactor Development Company
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Brochure, "Dr. Enrico Fermi, 1901-1954," circa 1960
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Booklet, "Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant: Master Plan for a Large Fast Breeder Reactor," 1970
Details
Booklet, "Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant: Master Plan for a Large Fast Breeder Reactor," 1970
Artifact
Booklet
Date Made
31 December 1970
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
75.2.7.4
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Power Reactor Development Company
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Booklet, "Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant: Master Plan for a Large Fast Breeder Reactor," 1970
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
