Die Atomenergie im Vereinigten Königreich. Die wissenschaftlichen und technischen Leistungen von Hochfluß-Forschungsreaktoren

This article by Sir Roger Makins, Chairman of the U. K. Atomic Energy Authority, reviews the atomic energy programme of the Uni ted Kingdom, beginning with a survey of the national organisation for research, develop ment and production. The article describes the nuclear programme: two large nuclear power stations of the Magnox type, natural uranium fuel, carbon dioxide cooled and graphite moderated, are in operation. A further seven of this type are planned or under construction. The Authority has in operation a prototype advanced gas cooled reactor, differing from the Magnox type in using oxide fuel canned in stainless steel. This makes possible the use of much higher temperatures with resulting higher efficiencies and lower costs. An appraisal of a full-scale A.G.R. power station on paper has shown that electricity could be generated, on fairly conservative assumptions, at a cost of less than 0.5d per unit. Further developments of the A.G.R. system should reduce generation costs to about OAd per unit. The Authority has also under development a steam generating heavy water reactor, of which a prototype of 100 megawatts electrical output is under construction. Another development located in the United Kingdom is the O.E.C.D. DRAGON reactor, a high temperature helium-cooled type.