Electric Power from Nuclear Fission

Abstract

No discussion of energy today would be adequate without a review of the development and prospects of fission power reactors. This description of the first generation light water reactor and analysis of the importance of the second generation fast breeder reactor was adapted from a lecture by Professor Benedict at the National Academy of Sciences Symposium on “Energy for the Future” during the 108th annual meeting in April 1971. It is published here with the permission of the Academy and of “Technology Review,” a publication of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where the author is professor in the department of nuclear engineering.