NUCLEAR-REACTOR TYPES FROM VIEW POINTS OF THEIR VALIDITY AND INEVITABILITY

Since 1942 when the world first nuclear reactor went critical,'till' 1976, more than 400 research reactors and 223 power reactors have been constructed. Those reactors are classified by their purposes, core structures, fuel types, coolant and moderator materials, and then the progress of development is studied. The power reactors are grouped into four groups (17 types), i.e. graphite reactor, light water reactor, heavy water reactor, special coolant (liquid metal and organic coolant. reactor. The developments of these 17 reactor types are altogether reviewed and the status of development is classified into five categories; A. commercialized but obsolete presently, B. fully commercialized, C. nearly commercialized, demo plant under operation, D. commercialization expected, X. development projects freezed. Validity and inevitability for the development of each reactor types are discussed. It is shown that the development of reactor types supported by military use was greatly accelerated without profitable economy, but the reactor types without military supports would require much longer time for achieving full scale commercialization, and that heavy water reactor, not light water reactor which has greater technical advantages and established the commercialization of nuclear power, would be the best reactor type, except for fast breeder, from resource evitability. © 1979, Atomic Energy Society of Japan. All rights reserved.