AEG Prüfreaktor, Nuclear research reactor in Karlstein am Main, Germany
The AEG Prüfreaktor was a nuclear research facility that housed two separate reactors. The PR-10 operated at 180 watts while the TKA reactor provided 100 watts of thermal capacity.
Construction of the facility began in 1960, with the PR-10 reactor entering service in 1961 and operating until its final shutdown in 1976. The installation had relocated from Frankfurt-Niederrad to Karlstein am Main to meet regulatory requirements near the Kahl nuclear power plant.
The site became deeply connected to the local identity of Großwelzheim, which even incorporated an atomic symbol into its coat of arms to reflect this bond. This emblem showed how central nuclear research was to the region's sense of itself.
The site is no longer in operation and cannot be visited by the public today. It is important to check with local authorities or tourism information before planning to visit the area, as the grounds remain restricted.
In 1973, the reactor divisions of AEG and Siemens merged to form Kraftwerk Union, which then continued operating the research facility. This merger of two industrial giants reshaped the structure of German nuclear technology.
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