Europe: tilting toward fusion

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · IEEE Spectrum; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/MSPEC.1976.6330441· OSTI ID:7337082

Kaplan, G

Nuclear reactor technology, which has been developing in Europe since World War II, has progressed to the breeder, and is now developing fusion programs. In spite of some safety concerns, Britain is likely to shift its next nuclear effort to the pressurized-water reactor (PWR) after a period of emphasizing the advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGRs). France began in 1959 with gas-cooled graphite reactors, shifted to light-water reactors when enriched uranium became available, and will concentrate on the PWR in an effort to reach a 67 percent nuclear generating capacity for its electricity needs by 1985. The French are also developing a breeder reactor, the Phenix, and are planning its successor, the Super Phenix. Breeder reactors offer some safety features with their low-pressure system, the high thermal conductivity of sodium, and the large heat capacity of the liquid metal coolant. Safety concerns, however, are caused by the sodium and water interface in the steam generator and swelling of the fuel elements. Britain does not announce its safety criteria because low public interest has not demanded the information. Britain is following solidification of nuclear waste processes as developed in France, West Germany, and the U.S. Fusion experiments are underway in the Tokamak project near Paris as well as in Britain. The Joint European Torus (JET) project has been proposed, although problems of controlling plasma density and obtaining adequate heating have not been resolved. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7337082
• Journal Information: IEEE Spectrum; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Spectrum; (United States) Vol. 13:12; ISSN IEESA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220000 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology
220600 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
296001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power Generation-- (-1989)
BREEDER REACTORS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EUROPE
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FRANCE
GAS COOLED REACTORS
JET REACTORS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
MANAGEMENT
NATURAL URANIUM REACTORS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OPERATION
PHENIX REACTOR
PLUTONIUM REACTORS
POWER PLANTS
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTORS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVIEWS
SAFETY
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TOKAMAK TYPE REACTORS
UNITED KINGDOM
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS