Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant: a building block in nuclear technology

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Electr. Perspect.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5682890

McCormack, M

Interest in breeder reactors dates from the Manhatten Project to the present effort to build the Clinch River Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) demonstration plant. Seven breeder-type reactors which were built during this time are described and their technological progress assessed. The Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project (CRBRP) has been designed to demonstrate that it can be licensed, can operate on a large power grid, and can provide industry with important experience. As the next logical step in LMFBR development, the project has suffered repeated cancellation efforts with only minor modifications to its schedule. Controversies have developed over the timing of a large-scale demonstration plant, the risks of proliferation, economics, and other problems. Among the innovative developments adopted for the CRBRP is a higher thermal efficiency potential, the type of development which Senator McCormack feels justifies continuing the project. He argues that the nuclear power program can and should be revitalized by continuing the CRBRP.

• Research Organization: United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5682890
• Journal Information: Electr. Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Electr. Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 79/4; ISSN ELPED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500 -- Power Reactors
Breeding
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
BREEDER REACTORS
CLINCH RIVER BREEDER REACTOR
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
REVIEWS
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
THERMAL POWER PLANTS