Book
Heavy-Water Power Reactors: Proceedings of a Symposium Vienna, 11-15 September 1967
Heavy-water reactors have evoked a great deal of interest since the early days of atomic power development. These reactors, by virtue of their good neutron economy, offer certain advantages over other types, including lower fuel inventory, versatility in fuel cycle with the possibility of using natural or enriched uranium as well as thorium, better fuel utilization, and consequently low fuel cycle cost. THe technology of these reactors is based upon two decades of experience with large research and test reactors supplemented by valuable data from seven experimental and full-scale power plants now operating in six countries. They have also benefited extensively from the light-water reactor technology. The world-wide interest in these reactors is indicated by the fact that mine countries are now either building comercial power plants or developing advanced prototypes using heavy water as moderator.