| Abstract Scope |
During World War II, concepts for nuclear reactors were designed and built to identify when nuclear criticality could be achieved. After the war, with the availability of enriched uranium, new concepts and applications for nuclear reactors proliferated. In 1946, a reactor design was proposed using enriched uranium metal as a fuel and light water as moderator. This reactor became the world's first light-water reactor when it achieved criticality in 1950. In 1951, the Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR-1) also a uranium metal fueled reactor became the first nuclear reactor to generate electricity. Today, civilian nuclear power reactors throughout the world employ uranium oxide as fuel. While the stability of uranium oxide has a safety advantage over uranium, how did it become the default standard? In this presentation, I will explore the history of nuclear reactors with a focus on the research and development of ceramics for use in this demanding application. |