ENERGY-CONVERSION IN NUCLEAR-REACTORS

The foundation of the Reactor Development Department im 1957 is regard ed as the start of nuclear power-activities with Siemens. The newly fo unded department was charged with the development of power reactors fo r industrial application. The first reactor developed in-house was the Karlsruhe multi-purpose research reactor (MZFR). Development work on reactors moderated and cooled by heavy water and fueled with natural u ranium was soon supplemented by research and development of light wate r reactors, with the pressurized water reactor line (PWR) being booste d by a partnership with Westinghouse. The first German PWR was install ed in the Obrigheim Nuclear Power Station (KWO). It was followed by th e facilities of Stade and then of Biblis A, a 1200 MWe plant the world 's largest power reactor at that time. In 1966, Gundremmingen A, the f irst boiling water reactor (BWR), was delivered to the operator This l ine is being developed further into the BWR-1000 advanced reactor conc ept. The stagnating nuclear market has enforced adaptation processes, some of them painful, and resulted in closer international cooperation .